Citizens' Assembly School Comes to Akron: A Deep Dive into Deliberative Democracy Practice

​This June, Akron, Ohio will host the Citizens' Assembly School, a two-day intensive program presented by FIDE - North America and Unify America, offering dialogue and deliberation practitioners a rare opportunity to explore citizens' assemblies—an increasingly vital tool in participatory democracy. Held June 12–13 at the Bounce Innovation Hub, the program combines expert-led instruction with hands-on workshops covering the full lifecycle of citizens' assemblies, including recruitment through sortition, question framing, facilitation, evaluation, and scaling. With a faculty of leading practitioners and scholars, including representatives from MASS LBP, FIDE, and major universities, participants will gain both the skills and networks needed to implement or support assemblies in their own communities. Akron's selection as host city reflects its growing role in civic innovation, and the event emphasizes accessibility with scholarships for local participants and a registration deadline of May 30. Read more in the blog post below.

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​The dialogue and deliberation community has an exciting opportunity to expand their toolkit this June as FIDE - North America partners with Unify America to bring a comprehensive Citizens' Assembly School to Akron, Ohio. This intensive two-day program, scheduled for June 12-13, offers practitioners a chance to explore one of the most promising innovations in participatory democracy.

Why Akron? A City Ready for Democratic Innovation

The choice of Akron as the host city reflects the community's commitment to participatory governance and civic engagement. Known historically as the "Rubber Capital of the World," Akron has continuously reinvented itself, evolving into a hub for entrepreneurship, sustainable polymers, and healthcare innovation. Today, the city is channeling that same innovative spirit toward building more participatory democratic processes.
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The partnership with Unify America and the local Akron Democracy League demonstrates how national organizations and grassroots initiatives can collaborate to strengthen democratic participation at the community level.

A Comprehensive Learning Experience

​The Citizens' Assembly School offers a rare opportunity for dialogue and deliberation practitioners to gain hands-on experience with citizens' assemblies—a democratic innovation that has gained significant traction worldwide. The program combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, featuring expert facilitators who have designed and implemented assemblies across North America.

Key Learning Components

The curriculum addresses the complete lifecycle of citizens' assemblies, from initial design through implementation and evaluation. Participants will explore critical elements including:

• Democratic Lottery and Recruitment: Understanding how to achieve truly representative participation through sortition, moving beyond traditional volunteer-based civic engagement models.
• Question Framing and Problem Definition: Learning the art and science of crafting remits that lead to productive deliberation and actionable outcomes.
• Facilitation Excellence: Developing skills to create conditions where diverse groups of citizens can move toward consensus on complex public issues.
• Implementation and Impact: Examining real-world case studies from communities across North America, including Victoria & Saanich's Assembly on Amalgamation, various civic assemblies from Petaluma to Fort Erie, and Montrose's Assembly on Childcare.

Expert Faculty from the Field

The school brings together leading practitioners and researchers who have been at the forefront of citizens' assembly innovation:

• Peter MacLeod (MASS LBP): Pioneer in North American citizens' assembly design
• Marjan Ehsassi (FIDE - North America): Leading advocate for democratic innovation
• J. Cherie Strachan (University of Akron): Academic expert on civic engagement
• Sara Yaffe (MASS LBP): Specialist in member engagement and consensus-building
• Amy Lee (Ohio State University): Researcher on deliberative town halls and scalable models

Hands-On Workshops and Practical Applications

Beyond the main program, participants can choose from four specialized workshops designed to deepen specific skills:

1. Deliberative Facilitation Deep Dive: Advanced techniques for managing complex group dynamics
2. Evaluation and Learning: Methods for assessing impact and building institutional knowledge
3. Scaling Citizens' Assemblies: Exploring online and hybrid models for broader reach
4. Institutionalization: Moving from ad-hoc initiatives to embedded democratic processes

Registration and Accessibility

The school is scheduled for June 12-13 at Bounce Innovation Hub in Akron, with registration open until May 30th. Recognizing the importance of accessibility, organizers have made scholarships available for Akron-based participants, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive professional development.

At $400 for the full program including meals and networking dinner, the school represents a significant investment in professional development that could pay dividends for practitioners looking to expand their toolkit with this powerful democratic innovation.
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​For our community, this Citizens' Assembly School represents an opportunity to learn from international best practices while building capacity for democratic innovation here in North America. Whether you're considering implementing a citizens' assembly in your own community or simply want to understand how this tool fits within the broader landscape of participatory democracy, this program offers valuable insights and practical skills.
The registration deadline is May 30th, and with limited capacity, early registration is recommended. For program questions, contact [email protected], or reach out to Kate Tucker at Unify America for Akron-specific inquiries. Learn more by visiting https://www.fide.eu/north-america/akron-school-2025.