To paraphrase Aristotle, when it comes to our national democracy, the whole is made greater by the sum of its parts. This year’s All-America City Award event will demonstrate this, as 20 finalist communities demonstrate the value of their work on local democracy, using inclusive civic engagement to address important challenges like health, equity, and well-being. These cities and counties are strengthening our nation’s democracy one community at a time. 

League Guides Sioux Falls Strategic Planning Effort

Highlights from the Parliamentary Exchange

75th Anniversary Event Around the Corner

“When we bring a diversified group together, it places us in a great position to set meaningful goals that will positively impact the Sioux Falls metro.” With those words, Mike Lynch, of Forward Sioux Falls, lauded the first stakeholders meeting for a new strategic plan for Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The League, with the assistance of Senior Fellow Derek Okubo, is working with local nonprofit groups and the city’s mayor on updating its strategic plan. Read more.

The League's Center for Democracy Innovation & Ohio State University’s Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability hosted this year's Global Innovations in Democracy: Parliamentary Exchange. Legislators from nearly a dozen countries shared insights and explored new trends, tools, and innovations in democracy. Representative Nancy Pelosi described how innovations in democracy empower women. Read more.

This year’s All-America City Award Event in Denver, CO is right around the corner, June 7-9. The event, focused on local democracy innovations, includes workshops, panel discussions, peer learning opportunities, and community presentations to a jury of national experts. Check out the event website to explore the agenda, and get excited about this year’s keynote speakers and finalists. There is still time to join us in Denver, or you can catch the livestream on our Facebook page.

Four Pathways to Financing Social Wellbeing

Leveraging National Expertise for Local Impact

Civic Engagement Success During Pandemic

Inequality has risen across advanced industrial democracies over several decades due to a myriad of factors. The changing economic landscape can have adverse impacts on democracy if unchecked, which calls for innovative solutions to mitigate these effects on the social well-being of underserved communities.

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The expertise of the League staff and senior fellows allows us to deliver the right civic assistance in the right way for communities. We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your particular challenges. We know one size does not fit all and we offer customizable services that can be mixed and matched for your community’s unique needs. Read more.

By involving community leaders in decision-making, health officials in Alameda County were able to build trusting relationships with vulnerable populations. Among the results were lower than average death rates and higher than average rates of vaccination. This article by Doug Linkhart is part of the Spring edition of the National Civic Review, which is now open-access. Read more.