Local Policy Lab (LPL) is thrilled to join forces with the National Civic League, moving from proving what works in individual cities to establishing inclusive governance as a national standard.
LPL was founded with the belief that most American cities are built and staffed for service delivery, not active resident participation. This structural dynamic often turns community engagement into a series of disconnected episodes, resulting in eroded trust and unrealized policy goals. By joining the League, we are combining expertise across several programs to enable effective policy outcomes. Together, we move beyond the theory of participation by working with cities to build the structures and governance tools that embed resident input into everyday decision-making.
Over the past three years, LPL has partnered with local governments to translate promising ideas into measurable change. We provide individualized strategic support, generate innovative policy approaches, and curate a network of local leaders as they craft solutions for their communities.
Our impact is far flung: from codifying the creation of an engagement department in Lancaster, PA, to ballot-bound Civic Assembly recommendations in Fort Collins, CO, to civic engagement efforts in support of inclusive zero waste plans in Missoula, MT our partner cities are successfully shifting from episodic outreach to institutionalized resident participation and real engagement. Now, by pairing LPL’s technical blueprints with the League’s national reach, we have a clear pathway to move these proven models from local pilots to broad, national adoption.
In the near term, we are putting this partnership into practice by:
- Preparing local governments for the upcoming mid-year elections;
- Equipping city staff with the tools to navigate the rapidly evolving AI and civic engagement landscape; and
- Deepening our commitment to improving voter turnout across the greater Houston area.
Click here to learn more about the Local Policy Lab.
