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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Sep 3

For our newsletter, FIDE asked our summer fellow (Diya Kumar) and interns (Eyob Sisay & Paige Margie) what they learned and their hopes for the future of our politics.

Also:
🏛️FIDE's session at NCOC this month
💻An upcoming webinar on CA & Institutional Reform

Read & subscribe: shorturl.at/Kyats

FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Jul 16

Our newsletter highlights our latest Citizens' Assembly school, which convened more than 40 elected representatives, public managers, advocates, implementers, & researchers from around the US in Akron, Ohio. Momentum is building behind American CAs!

Read & subscribe here: shorturl.at/TRlK1

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Jul 1

Marjan - our Executive Director - will speak at the Athens Democracy Forum this fall.

As citizens’ assemblies gain momentum & deliver results across North America, she'll share how FIDE, our partners & government reformers address voice insecurity through these processes.

athensdemocracyforum.com

Home - Athens Democracy Forum

Home- Athens Democracy Foundation -

www.athensdemocracyforum.com

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 29

🚨 Only a few more days to register!

Join us in Akron Ohio this June 12-13 for FIDE - North America's Citizens’ Assemblies School, hosted in partnership with Unify America.

📸 Get inspired by the energy from past editions in Washington, D.C. and Arizona!

📌Registration: www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 28

🔬 Science & tech policy should include voices of those most impacted—not just experts. Amanda Borth shares a framework to blend community experiences with scientific advice for better, fairer decisions.

📹Watch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arfe...

Akron School Registration 🔜 www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 23

💵 Launching meaningful citizens’ assemblies often hinges on a crucial factor: funding.

🪙 What lessons can we learn from how past deliberations were funded, and by whom?

Join a discussion on Funding Citizens’ Assemblies this June 5, 2025, 11am-noon Eastern Time. Register here: shorturl.at/oCRxn

FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 22

At FIDE - North America, we are providing technical guidance and oversight to support the work of Civic Genius and YOUnify in the design and implementation of Millcreek's city-wide citizens' assembly.

📚 Follow our Learning Series to learn more in the upcoming case study: www.fide.eu/learning-ser...

FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 22

Last year, during our Citizens' Assembly School in Washington, we heard Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor of Millcreek, explain the most pressing issues facing his community —and how he hopes to address them through deliberation.

Spots still available for June 12-13!

✍️ www.fide.eu/north-americ...

Citizens' Assembly School — FIDE - Federation for Innovation in Democracy

www.fide.eu

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 22

Jilian Youngblood, Executive Director at CivicGenius, explains how assemblies can be one of the tools to bring politics closer to constituents at the local level.

🎥Watch her session: youtu.be/dLJ7Zo0uSL0?...
👉Register for the Akron School: www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 20

🤔Can you identify your own biases?

Harry Gottlieb reminisces over how their team at Unify America conveyed this valuable message to members of the Citizens' Assembly of Montrose.

🎥Harry’s session: shorturl.at/tcMUG

📝Register for the Akron School: fide.eu/north-america/akron-school-2025

FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 15

❤️‍🩹We need more Civic Concierges

Assisting participants with their emotional and practical needs can ensure the participation of underrepresented groups.

🎥Sara’s full session: shorturl.at/M1D3t

📝Register for the Akron School: www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 14

📖 In Washington, DC on May 18?

☕ Join us for a discussion with FIDE-North America's Executive Director Marjan Ehsassi about her new book, Activated Citizenship, at Busboys and Poets (14th & V Street).

RSVP for the free, in-person event here: www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-ev...

ACTIVATED CITIZENSHIP | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation | Busboys and Poets

Join us to learn how deliberative democracy can reinvigorate citizen engagement and address key deficits in our society and our governance structures Drawing on extensive field research across four co...

www.busboysandpoets.com

FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 13

🌱Cultivating a respectful public discussion

Linn Davis recalls how the Petaluma Fairgrounds Advisory Panel transformed the heated debates in the City Council.

🎥Watch his talk: rb.gy/dg0xqc

👉Registration for the Citizens’ Assembly School in Akron: fide.eu/north-america/akron-school-2025

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 8

👋 Welcoming our new Program Manager!

Cole Speidel is joining our team to upscale and support our advocacy, capacity and field-building activities. He brings key expertise from strengthening democratic practices in local institutions with @ndidemocracy.bsky.social

🤝 @fide-europe.bsky.social

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 6

💼 Start prepping your elected officials

@petermacleod.bsky.social speaks from experience when emphasising the problem with forgetting to enlighten the electees.

🎬 Watch 'Creating Conditions for Policy Impact': www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-wE...
🔜 Upcoming School in Akron: www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · May 2

A two-day training in all things Citizens' Assemblies!

Join public servants, elected officials, and community leaders in improving democracy through deliberation.

📅 June 12–13
📍Akron, Ohio

🎟️ Learn more and register: www.fide.eu/north-americ...

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Reposted by FIDE - North America

Thorsten Sterk @thorstensterk.bsky.social · May 1

CITIZENS‘ ASSEMBLY SCHOOL

Akron - a US city that has never shied away from reinventing itself - meets democratic innovation!

@fide-northamerica.bsky.social and Unify America invite you to their upcoming Citizens’ Assembly School.

📅 June 12–13
🔜 Register now!

#CitizensAssembly

Citizens' Assembly School — FIDE - Federation for Innovation in Democracy

www.fide.eu

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 24

📢 SAVE THE DATE

Akron—a city that has never shied away from reinventing itself—meets democratic innovation!

We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Unify America to host the upcoming Citizens’ Assembly School.

📅 June 12–13
🔜 Registration and full program details coming soon—stay tuned!

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 22

📰 The House of the People

We need audacious transformations to seek a way out of the current democratic crisis. Today in the Boston Globe, we introduce a daring proposal to shift the conversation and renew the US democratic system.

✍️ shorturl.at/lfvTX

With @peoplepowered.org at @bostonglobe.com

It’s time for a fourth branch of government - The Boston Globe

When politicians fail to solve thorny policy issues, they should put the question to a House of the People.

shorturl.at

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 16

🗣️ Break the digital barrier and join us for an in-person chat!

Meet Marjan Horst Ehsassi for the presentation of her book: Activated Citizenship: The Transformative Power of Citizens’ Assemblies.

📅 April 24, 5 pm
📍 Columbia University, New York

✍ Register here: events.columbia.edu/cal/event/ev...

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 14

🗨️ “People are really searching for a meaningful and consequential voice”

In this introductory piece, City Changers interviews Marjan Ehsassi to reflect on how deliberation can bridge the widening gap between governments and the people they serve.

📖 Read here: citychangers.org/citychanger-...

CityChangers.org - Know how to create better cities!

Welcome to CityChangers.org – a digital resource hub for all who want to drive sustainable change in cities.

CityChangers.org

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 9

📚 The Citizens’ Assemblies Learning Series: www.fide.eu/learning-ser...

🟢Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly: www.victoriasaanich.ca
🔵Pictures by Richard A. Johnson and MASS LBP

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 9

FIDE - North America has served on the Oversight Committee for VSCA.

Miles Brackenbury, Lead Evaluation Fellow, and Executive Director, Marjan Horst Ehsassi have observed and supported the process.

✍️ Stay tuned for the upcoming Learning Series case study!

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 9

As members were invited to share their final words, a sense of community and empowerment shone through. Citizens praised the process and thanked facilitators along with their fellow members.

📜Each citizen was recognized with a Certificate of Public Service.

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FIDE - North America @north.america.fidemocracy.org · Apr 9

The mayor and elected representatives from both municipalities attended the closing ceremony and highlighted the ''extraordinary amount of work'' delivered by assembly members.

🗳️ Municipalities will now decide if they endorse the recommendation to hold the final decision in a public referendum.

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