Last year, city officials selected 40 residents through a lottery system – and asked them to help design the future of neighborhoods served by new rapid bus lines. 

This process was part of a civic assembly, a model of civic engagement where a statistically representative sample of everyday residents learn about a public challenge and then work with officials and experts to produce policy recommendations. 

In Raleigh – one of the fastest-growing areas in the United States – officials wanted to get a diverse set of residents’ perspectives to inform a long-term plan for the city’s growth. After three months of deliberation this spring, the assembly delegates produced more than two dozen proposals on topics. The City Council unanimously received all of them.

This civic assembly process tackled an area that is exceptionally thorny for local governments. Research shows that a small segment of the public – older homeowners – dominate traditional public input processes on city planning. Intentionally widening the spectrum of who guides housing density, walkability, commercial development and more, marks a bold commitment from a dynamic local government.

Please join New America, Civic Genius, and the City of Raleigh on July 28 from 1-2 pm ET for a virtual discussion on the assembly process. 

During this event, we will speak with Jillian Youngblood, whose nonprofit, Civic Genius at the National Civic League, facilitated and helped organize the assembly. We will also hear from those who lead the process in the city of Raleigh, and an assembly member.