Join National Civic League Webinar to Explore the 2026 All-America City Award

​The National Civic League will host a free webinar on November 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time to help communities prepare strong applications for the 2026 All-America City Award, which this year emphasizes strengthening civic health and rebuilding trust as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary. For over 75 years, the award has recognized communities that use inclusive engagement and cross-sector collaboration to address local challenges, and the webinar will feature guidance from program director Rebecca Trout alongside insights from 2025 award-winning communities. Especially relevant to dialogue and deliberation practitioners, eligible projects include participatory budgeting, citizens’ assemblies, arts-based storytelling, and innovative public meeting formats that broaden participation and deepen civic problem-solving. The session highlights how the application process itself can build relationships, spark partnerships, and elevate community visibility, with the application deadline on February 26, 2026. Register at the link provided.

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The National Civic League invites communities nationwide to discover how the All-America City Award can elevate local civic engagement efforts and celebrate collaborative problem-solving.

For over 75 years, the All-America City Award has recognized communities that leverage inclusive civic engagement to address critical challenges and strengthen connections among residents, businesses, nonprofits, and government leaders. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the 2026 award takes on special significance with its theme: "America at 250: Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust."
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This theme resonates deeply with the core principles of dialogue and deliberation. At a time when civic trust is declining and many Americans feel disconnected from decision-making processes, the award spotlights communities that are reinventing how people come together to solve problems. These are places where residents actively participate in shaping their community's future through meaningful engagement, collaborative governance, and initiatives that rebuild trust and foster a sense of belonging.

Learn How to Apply

On November 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time, the National Civic League is hosting a free webinar designed to guide communities through the 2026 All-America City Award application process. Rebecca Trout, Director of the All-America City Award program, will provide an insider's perspective on what makes a strong application, available resources including mentor communities, and the tangible benefits that finalists and winners experience.
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The session will also feature representatives from 2025 All-America City Award-winning communities who will share their firsthand experiences and practical insights on maximizing the impact of the All-America City journey. Whether your community is implementing participatory budgeting, hosting citizens' assemblies, facilitating deliberative forums, or developing civic leadership programs for underrepresented groups, this webinar offers valuable guidance on showcasing your work on a national stage.

Why This Matters for Practitioners

The All-America City Award aligns seamlessly with dialogue and deliberation practice. Eligible projects span a wide range of approaches—from storytelling and arts-based initiatives that surface community visions, to innovative public meeting formats that broaden participation and foster respectful dialogue across differences. Communities using facilitated conversations, civic technology platforms, or trust-building initiatives through trusted messenger networks will find particular relevance in this year's theme.

Beyond recognition, the award process itself fosters community growth. Past participants report that assembling diverse cross-sector teams to tell their community's story deepened their understanding of local assets, fostered new collaborations, and reinvigorated civic pride. Winners join an elite network of over 500 communities and gain national visibility that attracts business investment, increases tourism, and enhances grant opportunities.
For NCDD members and the broader dialogue and deliberation field, this webinar presents an opportunity to explore how communities are advancing democratic renewal through creative engagement strategies. The application process—requiring both written submissions and live presentations by finalist teams—mirrors the collaborative, storytelling-centered approach that defines effective civic practice.

Interested communities should register soon, as the application deadline is February 26, 2026. Whether you're considering applying or simply want to learn about innovative civic engagement happening nationwide, this session offers inspiration and practical knowledge for strengthening democratic practice in your community.

Register for the webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BZ4OHQpzSdCz3mfjW0XFdQ#/registration