Activities

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Jefferson Center

Lessons from the Irish Citizens’ Assembly: Deliberate, Even When it’s Difficult
This post is the first in a new 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. Ross Busch is […]
Annie Pottorff
Local Civic Challenge #2: Joining local offices, committees, and boards
This post is part of our Local Civic Challenge, a chance to complete a few easy tasks each week that will help you become a more engaged citizen! To get the series delivered directly to your inbox, sign up here. Learning more about the day-to-day work of your local gov, and how community members are thinking […]
Annie Pottorff
Local Civic Challenge #1: Get familiar with your local gov
To kick off the first week of the Local Civic Challenge, we want you to learn more about the ins and outs of your city government! That includes how it operates, who’s involved, and ways you can give feedback. Once you’re done, you’ll be more familiar with how the system works, and you might even have […]
Annie Pottorff
Join the Local Civic Challenge!
At long last, the leaves are turning green and the temperatures are rising in Minnesota, signaling that spring has finally sprung. Our team is excited to break out of hibernation, and bring what we’ve learned from our recent projects directly to you! If you’ve ever had an interest in getting more involved in local democracy, […]
Annie Pottorff
How to burst your information bubble
If you’re reading this, we’d bet that you care about the future of democracy, the forces that damage it, and the work that strengthens it. If you do, then chances are also good that you’ve heard the phrases “information bubble” and/or “filter bubble” as topics of concern. To provide a (very) brief overview: as humans […]
Annie Pottorff
Making participation more deliberative, and deliberation more participatory
A few weeks ago, we attended the Innovations in Participatory Democracy Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference, which we were excited to support as both participants and presenters, brought together community leaders, government officials and staff, practitioners, researchers, funders, youth leaders, and technologists to explore innovations in government participation. We led a workshop on Citizens Juries, Assemblies, […]
Annie Pottorff
Electrifying the Local Energy Discussion
This article was co-written by Tara Ritter (IATP) and Annie Pottorff. Improved energy storage, clean energy jobs, and energy efficiency projects are reshaping the energy landscape around the world. Stevens County, Minnesota, a rural community of around 9,000, is at the forefront of this transformation. The community touts a public university, lots of land for […]
Annie Pottorff
Using Conversation to Build Collaboration Between Newsrooms and Communities
Last fall, we launched Your Voice Ohio, the second phase of an ongoing collaborative effort to help Ohio newsrooms better understand and respond to the needs of their communities. Our 38 Your Voice Ohio partner newsrooms are exploring new ways to connect with their communities and to communicate critical information more effectively. We’re looking at a […]
Annie Pottorff
Building Resilience in Winona County
We read a lot in the news these days about the large scale effects of climate change, from melting glaciers to intensified tropical storms. But many people are also noticing shifts in their own backyard, like the residents of Winona County. Higher temperatures, increased thunderstorms, and frequent heat waves have led to big changes in […]
Annie Pottorff
Turning Ideas into Community Action in Stevens County
It’s been almost 3 years since the Jefferson Center and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy kicked off our very first Rural Climate Dialogue in Stevens County, Minnesota! The 3-day long public deliberation gathered 15 citizens to discuss how their community could adapt to climate change and extreme weather events. Adapting to Change People […]
Annie Pottorff