Ever think government would work better if more people like you were making the decisions? Us too. And believe it or not, many government decisionmakers agree!

On April 23, come together with local leaders and every day residents to experience an innovation in policy making: deliberative democracy. It works by bringing a cross-section of the community together to learn about an issue, weighs tradeoffs and make recommendations to government decision-makers. Deliberative democracy processes go by a few different names, including civic assembly.

Not only do deliberative processes put YOU at the center of decision-making, they also transform the divisive grandstanding that is driving so many people away from the rooms where public policy is made.

Sound too good to be true?

Come check out what it’s like in a short introductory workshop! Whether this is the first time you’ve heard of deliberative democracy or you are an expert, this workshop is for you. You’ll walk away with knowledge of the basics and learn about some exciting innovations — as well as how YOU can help bring deliberative democracy to life in Rochester.