Activities

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Jefferson Center

From A Window on the Bus – Democracy in Full View
This is the fifth post in our blog series exploring democracy around the world, submitted by a diverse group of people interested in using deliberation, participation, and civic tech to solve challenges we face today. The following does not necessarily represent the views of the Jefferson Center or Jefferson Center staff. David McCann is an… […]
Annie Pottorff
The business of business in a democracy
How should businesses operate in a democratic society? With the rise of social media, many companies are interacting with citizens directly and pledging to give back to communities while promoting social responsibility and their commitment to the environment. We’re also witnessing the growth of certified B Corporations and social enterprises, which often use commercial strategies… […]
Annie Pottorff
Citizenship in the age of data collection
When using an app and scrolling the web, how often are you bombarded with a pop-up vaguely describing language how your personal data will be collected and used? Rather than thinking through the possible implications of what we’re agreeing to, we often quickly and reflexively hit “I accept” in order to continue shopping, reading, chatting,… […]
Annie Pottorff
How can technology strengthen democracy?
From the good (using social media to increase political engagement) to the bad (bots sharing fake news and false information), technology is changing the way democracy operates. At the upcoming New York Times Athens Forum on Democracy, we’re working with journalists, international business leaders, policy makers, and attendees from across the globe to address today’s… […]
Annie Pottorff
How do we know democracy is working?
Not many organizations today can trace the core of their work back to 507 BCE. That’s when the first democracy was established in the city-state of Athens, with the goal of putting “ordinary citizens” at the heart of decision-making. Athenian democracy randomly-selected individuals to fill the few existing government, administrative, and judicial offices, to make… […]
Annie Pottorff
Join Our #DemocracyChat!
Want to share your ideas about how democracy is working today, and the steps individuals, journalists, and companies can take to strengthen it? Join our Twitter chat on Monday, September 10 at 11:00 am CT with the hashtag #DemocracyChat! Add to Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCal here. We’ll discuss topics including… Diagnosing Democracy: is democracy… […]
Annie Pottorff
Creative New Jersey Kickstarts Community Collaboration & Trust
Image credit: Creative New Jersey This is the fourth post in our blog series exploring democracy around the world, submitted by a diverse group of people interested in using deliberation, participation, and civic tech to solve challenges we face today. The following does not necessarily represent the views of the Jefferson Center or Jefferson Center… […]
Annie Pottorff
We’re bringing the Citizens Jury to Athens
We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with the New York Times for the annual New York Times Athens Democracy Forum! As an official Knowledge Partner, we’ve been collaborating with New York Times team to bring our Citizens Jury method of deliberation to Athens in September. At this year’s conference, themed ”Democracy in Danger: Solutions for… […]
Annie Pottorff
Citizens Jury, Candidate, and Beyond: an Interview with Michelle Toven
At the Itasca County Energy Dialogue we hosted in May, a group of 18 citizens spent 2 days learning more about the ins and outs of their local energy system, and made recommendations on how it could be strengthened for the future. Michelle Toven, one participant of the dialogue, walked away from the experience with… […]
Annie Pottorff
Equitable, affordable, and resilient: the future of energy in Winona County
When people have access to affordable, reliable, and efficient energy, the entire community benefits. Everyone can worry a little bit less about outsized utility bills or energy outages, especially during the hottest and coldest months of the year or when severe weather strikes. In Winona County, Minnesota, the community has been busy creating a dependable… […]
Annie Pottorff