Four police officers, a dozen youth leaders, and 55 curious neighbors walk into a public library…
It’s not the set-up for a lame joke, but for an evening of powerful conversation and shared civic learning. Last month, Civic Genius partnered with the University of Rochester Democracy Center to host It’s Your America at the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, where participants got to experience deliberative democracy firsthand.
This It’s Your America workshop brought together a wide range of participants across communities including members of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, officers from the Rochester Police Department, and community members representing a vibrant mix of experiences and perspectives. While points of view varied, everyone came ready to listen, learn, and connect.
The topic of the night was policing and public safety, a challenge that touches every person living, working, or spending time in Rochester. The shared goal? Safer communities for everyone. Here’s how the evening went down:
Shared Values
The workshop began with a level-setting discussion of shared values, in which participants reflected on what values should guide our approach to public safety. Several themes resonated across age, background, and perspective, like fairness, dignity and equality.
By the end of the activity, one thing was clear: despite our differences, we hold many of the same core values. That common ground became the foundation for the conversations that followed, and a reminder of what can bring a community together.
Lenses & Priorities
Next, we explored a few of the elements that shape public safety in Rochester, like poverty, mental health, police training, and racial equity. But what should we prioritize among competing interests? Participants jotted down the elements that resonated with them and made note of new perspectives that deepened their thinking.
With everything on the table, the group got tactical, considering the pros and cons of real-world approaches. Re-zoning for livelier neighborhoods? It takes time. Hiring more police? Cities need to balance that against the risks of over-policing. Expanding successful community programs? The funding must come from somewhere.
Building Consensus
The workshop wrapped up with an exercise in building consensus. Participants took turns proposing their top solutions, then groups molded each idea to meet the interests of different parties. The goal wasn’t instant agreement – and not every idea gained support across the ideological spectrum. But with each round, participants found and built on common ground that brought them closer together.
What’s Next? Join the Conversation
Rochester showed what’s possible when people from all walks of life come together. Want to bring It’s Your America to your community? Reach out to [email protected].
Special thanks to the University of Rochester Democracy Center for making this workshop possible, to the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County for sharing their space, and to Wegmans for keeping us fueled with refreshments.
