Healthy Democracy

?? Contribute to the OECD Deliberative Democracy Database The OECD - OCDE Deliberative Democracy Database is a global resource that documents representative deliberative processes worldwide. With over 700 cases, it highlights how citizen deliberation has informed public decision-making. To ensure the database remains up to date, we are seeking new cases of deliberative processes that took place between September 2023 and January 2025. If you are a policymaker, practitioner, researcher, or aware of relevant initiatives, we encourage you to contribute. Submit your case here ?? https://lnkd.in/e4fFapjc Deadline: 5 March 2025 #DeliberativeDemocracy #OpenGovernment Alessandro Bellantoni DemocracyNext FIDE - Europe FIDE - North America Emanuele Sapienza ?ngela Guimar?es Pereira Democratic Society G1000 Missions Publiques Carlos Santiso David Goessmann Ollin Pérez-Raynaud Charlotte Denise-Adam

Funder's Guide to Citizens' Assemblies out! Citizens'/civic assemblies are one of the best bets for building our democracy. The idea of tasking a randomly selected group of citizens with making important decisions on behalf of everyone sounds radical. But it makes sense to people of all political stripes once the learn about the idea, because they believe that a) we really need to start solving problems together and b) it's possible for us to do that if we work things out person to person instead of retreating into tribal echo chambers or letting the loudest voices prevail. Citizens' assemblies are a powerful, replicable method for doing this. At the same time, citizen assemblies aren't something that we have much experience with--the local leaders who are trying this out and the folks helping them (Healthy Democracy and DemocracyNext are two among many) are blazing a new path. Philanthropy (national, local, institutional, individual, whatever) is a key partner in this, but it can be hard to know how to get started and be most effective. The Democracy Funder's Network and New America have a terrific funders' guide on citizen assemblies that casts a practical, critical eye on the field and gives some practical guidance. Please check it out if you're remotely interested in the intersection of philanthropy and democracy. https://lnkd.in/gNbAsns5

?? We are glad to be connected with New Pluralists as we stand up for pluralism in our democracy. At the start of February, the annual Pluralism in Action conference took place in Atlanta, convening more than 170 leading pluralists from the around the country. ?? Thank you to Lauren Higgins for inviting FIDE - North America to participate; this year the conference agenda included a ??????????-???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????' ????????????????????, co-led by our Executive Director Marjan Horst Ehsassi and Healthy Democracy's Linn Davis! Marjan provided a broad view of citizens’ assemblies abroad and in the U.S., drawing from case studies in her book "Activated Citizenship" to examine their strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth, while Linn shared practical insights from two recent cases in Petaluma, California, and in Bend, Oregon. ?? Together, these examples illustrate how citizens’ assemblies foster inclusive decision making, build trust in democratic institutions, and empower communities to co-create policy solutions.

It's hard to capture the power of a citizens' assembly until you actually attend one. This video of the 2024 Deschutes Civic Assembly on Youth Homelessness distils the emotional power that moves so many people involved. As assembly members, organisers and officials explain, the assembly did not just offer 23 practical, thought-through recommendations with supermajority support to deal with a major local issue. Sometimes speaking through tears of happiness, those present tell how the experience felt "inspirational", "hopeful",? "positive" and left them with feelings of "optimism for the future" and "love". That's because such assemblies weave a kind of magic that is deeply human. They are forums in which everyone respectfully speaks, is heard, and listens by turn. As assembly member Brenda puts it: "It's the first time in my life that I've ever felt that my voice mattered." Citizens’ assemblies also engender the profound satisfaction of contributing to the common good. And they show that citizens can get beyond the noisy polarisation of electoral politics. "It's hard to be a conservative in Oregon in general and feel validated … There are a lot of times when I personally feel that I shouldn't voice my opinion," says Alex, one of the members. "I thought there was going to be a lot of arguing [at the assembly, but] none of that happened. I didn't feel any pressure. Conservative-wise, liberal-wise, looking round the room, I couldn't guess who leaned which way. Which was extremely refreshing." https://lnkd.in/djRdN3HA Matt Abrams Josh Burgess Central Oregon Civic Action Project MIT Center for Constructive Communication Deb Roy Dimitra Dimitrakopoulou Maya Detwiller Marina Rakhilin, MSW Healthy Democracy Linn Davis Grace Taylor Justin Reedy Lauren Babcock, NPMP, CHW Oregon State University Elizabeth Marino Taha Yasseri Quadrivium Foundation Brooke Alden Russell The Rockefeller Foundation Kevin O'Neil Omidyar Network Michelle Barsa Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council Tammy Baney Deschutes County City of Bend Anthony Broadman Megan Perkins