Democracy and the Economy: Rethinking Civic Participation

June 18, 2026: This webinar explored the relationship between economic policy and democratic participation. Bringing together leading practitioners and scholars working at the intersection of civic engagement, economic mobility, participatory governance, and community wealth building, the conversation examined how local governments can strengthen democracy through economic decision-making.

Speakers

Celina Su, Professor at the City University of New York
Professor at the City University of New York and a leading scholar on participatory budgeting, civic engagement, and democratic participation.

Dr. Leonard Brock, Senior Vice President for Systems Change and Policy at CFLeads
Senior Vice President for Systems Change and Policy at CFLeads, oversees the organization’s economic mobility and systems change portfolios.

Joe Guinan, President of The Democracy Collaborative
President of The Democracy Collaborative and leading voice on community wealth building, democratic ownership, and local economic democracy.