About Community Assemblies
Community assemblies, often called civic assemblies, are a form of deliberative democracy that brings together a randomly selected representative group of residents in a community to provide insight, diverse perspectives, and recommendations on public policy and its process through collaboration and deliberation.
Although the civic assembly model dates back to ancient Greece, they have gained in popularity recently as governments and other organizations seek better, more democratic ways to solve problems. Over the past 30 years, civic assemblies have been used more than 700 times around the world to tackle complex and challenging issues, according to CivicLex.
The Wisconsin Community Assemblies project is a collaboration between UW–Madison’s Division of Extension Community Development Institute and the La Follette School of Public Affairs. It is led by Professor Amber Wichowsky.
About the Community Development Institute
The Division of Extension’s Community Development Institute provides educational programming to help leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. It works with communities to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents.
About the La Follette School of Public Affairs
The La Follette School of Public Affairs is a leading academic institution focused on public policy and the practice of governance. It strives to inspire evidence-based policymaking and to advance the public good.
About Professor Amber Wichowsky
Amber Wichowsky is an associate professor of public affairs and holds the Leadership Wisconsin Endowed Chair for the Division of Extension. Her research explores civic engagement and how individuals and communities engage contentious and complex public issues.