Healthy Democracy and Sortition USA Offer Leadership Training for Democracy with Focus on Civic Assemblies

​Healthy Democracy and Sortition USA are offering a Leadership Training for Democracy program (apply by April 30, 2026) to help participants move from learning to action through local organizing around civic assemblies. The two-weekend virtual training (May 23–24 and May 30–31) covers how assemblies use lottery selection and facilitation to improve decision-making, with case studies and practical guidance for advocacy. Limited to 10 participants, the program requires ~4 hours/week post-training for outreach and organizing, and includes six months of support (mentorship, check-ins, peer network, and potential seed funding) to help participants build local initiatives and advance democratic innovation.

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Healthy Democracy and Sortition USA are jointly offering a Leadership Training for Democracy program for people who want to strengthen democratic practice in their communities and move from learning to action, with a strong focus on local organizing and specific support for sortition and civic assemblies, with applications closing April 30, 2026. The training introduces civic assemblies as a practical, proven way for communities to make better decisions together, led by Healthy Democracy, beginning with the "why": civic assemblies build trust, bring new voices into public decision-making, and help governments address complex issues, with discussion aiming to show how strong design, lottery selection, and skilled facilitation lead to better outcomes. Participants will learn what distinguishes civic assemblies from traditional public meetings, focus groups, or advisory committees; explore core elements that make them effective; review case studies showing consistent features of assemblies and flexibility allowing them to adapt to local contexts; and address common questions directly to build confidence in explaining and advocating for this model—with program also building practical outreach and organizing skills teaching participants how to communicate clearly about democratic innovation, build relationships with community partners and public institutions, and develop realistic local plans to advance civic assemblies and related tools.

The program features a two-weekend virtual format led jointly by Healthy Democracy and Sortition USA, with Weekend 1 (May 23-24) consisting of two two-hour sessions led by Healthy Democracy and Weekend 2 (May 30-31) consisting of two two-hour sessions led by Sortition USA, all sessions held online with each program having openings for 10 participants. In addition to attending training sessions, applicants should be prepared to commit approximately 4 hours per week following the training to carry out the strategies developed during the program, including local outreach, organizing, relationship-building, and participation in follow-up check-ins and support activities—with program best suited for people who are ready to move from learning to action and can realistically make time to apply what they develop during training in their own communities. At the end, participants will have identified a goal they want to work toward and the specific steps necessary to build a local chapter to get there, with graduates receiving six months of follow-up support, including check-ins, mentorship, and peer connection, and seed funding may become available to help launch or strengthen local work.

The application requires commitment to attending all training sessions and to approximately 3-4 hours per week post-training for 1 year to carry out the strategies developed during training, with agreement to attend and communicate updates during agreed-on check-in times. Applicants must provide the location where they plan to carry out democracy leadership (city, state, or region), describe their background, and explain why they would make a good candidate for the Leadership Training for Democracy program, with applications closing April 30, 2026. The program emphasizes practical implementation with participants expected to develop specific local organizing plans during training and follow through with concrete action in their communities, supported by structured follow-up including check-ins, mentorship, peer connection, and potential seed funding for launching or strengthening local work over a six-month period following completion of training.

Apply: Applications due April 30, 2026
Training dates: Weekend 1 (May 23-24) and Weekend 2 (May 30-31), 2026
Format: Virtual, two two-hour sessions per weekend
Commitment: All training sessions plus approximately 3-4 hours per week post-training for 1 year