Wow, and Thank You!

Vermont's introduction to citizens' assemblies was a success!

Thanks to Ryan Garvey for capturing great photos and video.

Advocating for something you believe is important when few others see it yet can be both lonely and exhausting.

At the same time, it’s exciting to witness as others start to get it too.

For a while now, the small (but slowly growing) Democracy Creative team has been studying, designing projects around, and advocating for this thing happening around the world called citizens’ assemblies.

A few months ago, we said its time to share this idea with a lot more people.

We chose City Hall for the event, a symbol of our vision to make citizens' assemblies as central to our democracy as the institutions we're familiar with.

I was terrified that the big (and historic) room would feel empty, and that no one would care.

But I was thrilled to see a room full of interested people: elected officials (Councilor Joe Magee, Rep. Emilie Krasnow, Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Rep. Sarita Austin, Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone, Councilor Melo Grant, and Lt. Governor David Zuckerman — thank you!), community organizers, and other curious Vermonters.

The full video can be watched here, thanks to CCTV. And thanks again to our great speakers Terry Bouricius and Alex Renirie of Healthy Democracy.

We also distributed a zine at the event, which we’ve scanned and made available for free download here.

We were able to pull off this event due to a few contributions made at just the right time (Barbie Alsop! Bill Huber! James! Also funds from the Vermont Community Foundation, of course Steve and Mags Conant who have supported us since the beginning — and many others who contribute in large and small ways.)

However, we did forget to ask for donations at the event. Oops :) I’m not very good at that, much to the chagrin of Tevan and others…

We’re now moving forward with even bigger plans. Of all 50 USA states, Vermont may be the most poised to further demonstrate this model that is spreading across the world. We believe we can do something truly historic here.

So I’m asking now, if you can, please consider donating to help as keep pushing this forward.

Thanks again everyone. Much more to come from Democracy Creative!

— Jesse