2024 will be a pivotal year for our country’s democracy, and we look forward to working with our partners to rally cities and counties across the nation to protect and improve our democratic way of life. Our recent mapping of democracy-related groups in the U.S. turned up over 10,000 organizations! Working together toward a stronger, more inclusive democracy is the key to channeling public sentiment. And as Abraham Lincoln said, “with public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.”

Rochester’s Mayor Takes the Reins as League's Board Chair

Now Available: Winter Edition of the National Civic Review

Uniting Voices, Building Resilience: The Power of Engagement

Mayor Evans was elected as board chair in November, together with vice chair, Mayor GT Bynum of Tulsa, OK. Mayor Evans has served on the League’s board and as mayor of Rochester since 2022. Mayor Evans takes the helm at the League at a critical time, in conjunction with our work to support communities in maintaining and improving democracy and equitable engagement. Read more.

The Winter edition of the Review, published in collaboration with the Kettering Foundation, includes research on the effectiveness of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, discusses efforts to address challenges facing local journalism, details surprising findings from a survey challenging perceptions of societal division, and explores examples of participatory democracy methods. Code NCL24 to read.

Beyond their customary role in future planning, civic engagement and mediation skills are also vital in the wake of local tragedies. Expert public engagement is indispensable for fostering unity during challenging times and for preventing further divisions within the community. That’s why, when tragedy struck Virginia Beach, they brought in Larry Schooler, one of the League’s Senior Fellows. Read more.

Innovative Solutions Tailored to Your Community

What Measures of Racial Justice and Well-Being Matter to You?

The Future of Citizenship: Collective Intelligence and Structural Reforms

Under the direction of the League's new Center for Democracy Innovation, we are happy to announce new community services designed to make your local democracy more participatory. League staff can assist communities in a variety of ways, from facilitating civic infrastructure scans and charter revisions, to improving public meetings. Read more.

Well-being and Equity (WE) in the World is updating measures designed to track population health and the social determinants of health, and they want the input of community leaders and policymakers. The domains under the measures, like lifelong learning, basic needs for health and safety, and humane housing, determine how well we can thrive. Learn more and vote here.

During the 2023 Conference on Citizenship, Matt Leighninger emphasized the importance of collective intelligence in addressing democratic threats, and stressed the need for structural reforms. He underscored challenges from new technologies and the crucial role of upgrading democracy mechanisms. Explore further and view conference highlights.