CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY SCHOOL

April 2024 | Washington D.C.

Imagine a room filled with passionate advocates from across the U.S. and Canada, all united by a shared vision: to upgrade democracy through the power of Citizens’ Assemblies!


That's exactly what happened at our groundbreaking school in Washington, DC. Over an intensive two days, 40 participants from 16+ U.S. states and Canadian provinces came together to learn, strategize, and build community around this transformative democratic innovation.

The School was taught by global all-star lineup of speakers who’ve led assemblies on three continents. These expert practitioners shared a wealth of knowledge and hands-on training in the nuts and bolts of citizens' assembly design and facilitation. Our participants rolled up their sleeves and dove into how we can use democratic lotteries to bring together everyday people from all walks of life to tackle tough challenges. The skills and knowledge shared were pure gold!

The School generated a palpable sense of momentum and possibility. The energy in the room was electric as connections were forged and plans made to bring citizens' assemblies to communities across North America.

The 2024 Citizens’ Assembly School was just the beginning!

We await you in the next one!

PROGRAM

DAY 1

  • Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of Ireland’s Electoral Commission

  • Iain Walker – Executive Director, newDemocracy

  • Alex Renirie, Co-Director, Healthy Democracy

    • Deep Division and Polarization - Lessons from Mostar (Yves Dejaeghere, Executive Director, FIDE)

    • The German Deliberative Experience and Social Cohesion (Jacob Birkenhäger, Head of Business Unit, IFOK)

    • Brussels and Mixed Deliberative Committees – Solving Public Problems with Elected Representatives (Jonathan Moskovic, Innovations Advisor to the Brussels Parliament)

    • France, the CESE, National Citizens’ Conventions and Policy Impact (Juliette Agez or Kenza Occansey, Vice President, CESE)

    Moderated by · Christine Lopes Metcalfe, Program Director, Local Policy Lab

  • Zakia Elvang, We Do Democracy, Executive Director

    • Youth/Student Assemblies (Sarah Yaffe, MASS LBP, Director)

    • The Local Policy Lab’s Democracy Plan (Laura Wood, Local Policy Lab, Vice President)

    • Building and Leveraging Civic Assembly Ecosystems (Forrest Sparks, Climate Justice Hub, & Philip Lindsay, The Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities)

    • Deliberative Facilitation (Cont’d) (Zakia Elvang, We Do Democracy, Executive Director)

DAY 2

    • Regulatory Assemblies and Digital Assemblies (Sarah Yaffe, MASS LBP, Director)

    • Petaluma Fairgrounds Advisory Panel (Alex Renirie, Healthy Democracy, Co-Director)

    • Unify Montrose (Matt/Harry, Unify America)

    • Millcreek, Utah CA (Civic Genius/Younify/Mayor of Millcreek)

    Moderated by Hollie Russon Gilman, Senior Fellow, New America

  • Amanda Borth, Associate Researcher, Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes, Arizona State University

  • Peter MacLeod, President and Founder, MASS LBP

    • Youth/Student Assemblies (Sarah Yaffe, MASS LBP, Director)

    • The Local Policy Lab’s Democracy Plan (Laura Wood, Local Policy Lab, Vice President)

    • Building and Leveraging Civic Assembly Ecosystems (Forrest Sparks, Climate Justice Hub, & Philip Lindsay, The Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities)

    • Deliberative Facilitation (Cont’d) (Zakia Elvang, We Do Democracy, Executive Director)

SPEAKERS

  • Chief Executive of Ireland’s Electoral Commission

    Session: Solving intractable problems: learnings from Ireland's experience in building a robust deliberative culture

  • Executive Director, We Do Democracy

    Sessions:

    • The secret sauce of citizens’ assemblies: deliberative facilitation

    • Deliberative Facilitation

  • Director, MASS LBP

    Sessions:

    • An Overview of Citizens’ Assemblies in North America: Regulatory Assemblies and Digital Assemblies

    • Youth/Student Assemblies

  • Executive Director, newDemocracy

    Session: The most important question – How to frame a remit for impact

  • Executive Director, FIDE - Europe

    Session: Youth/Student Assemblies : Deep Division and Polarization - Lessons from Mostar

  • Vice President, Local Policy Lab

    Session: The Local Policy Lab’s Democracy Plan

  • Associate Researcher, Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes, Arizona State University

    Session: Democracy & Science: Integrating Community and Stakeholder Values into Deliberation Design

  • Director, Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes and Local Policy Lab

    Welcome remarks.

  • Head of Business Unit, IFOK

    Session: Citizens’ Assemblies – Perspectives from around the world: The German Deliberative Experience and Social Cohesion

  • Program Co-Director at Healthy Democracy

    Sessions:

    • Democratic lottery, recruitment, and inclusion

    • An Overview of Citizens’ Assemblies in North America: Petaluma Fairgrounds Advisory Panel

  • Senior Fellow, New America

    Session:

    • Moderator - An Overview of Citizens’ Assemblies in North America

  • Innovations Advisor to the Brussels Parliament

    Session: Citizens’ Assemblies – Perspectives from around the world: Brussels and Mixed Deliberative Committees – Solving Public Problems with Elected Representatives

  • President and Founder, MASS LBP

    Session: Landing with the Administration – how to build in follow-up and ensure government accountability

  • Executive Director, FIDE - North America

    Welcome remarks.

  • Program Director, Local Policy Lab

    Sessions:

    • Citizens’ Assemblies – Perspectives from around the world, Moderator

  • The Assembly Project

    Sessions:

    • CUNY Assembly Process: how to build and leverage CA ecosystems

  • Democracy Innovation Program Manager, The Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and the Humanities

    Session:

    • CUNY Assembly Process: how to build and leverage CA ecosystems

In partnership with

Federation for Innovation in Democracy - North America


Let’s find how we can work together — reach out!

Marjan Ehsassi, Executive Director

mehsassi@berggruen.org

3717 Fulton St, NW

Washington DC 20007