To engage middle and high school students and their parents in civic engagement via the educational video-game, Counties Work.
Program Area: Community Impact
How can we harness technology to promote civic engagement and more responsive government?
Though technology has transformed our lives as consumers, its impact on our lives as citizens has been limited. But over the past decade, there has been a surge of interest and activity in leveraging technology to empower residents and strengthen civil society. What began as a series of ad hoc efforts and “hackathons” has developed into a broader “civic tech” community of companies, nonprofits, funders and governments.
We at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Rita Allen Foundation have observed the growth of this field firsthand as funders supporting a range of tech organizations (mostly nonprofits but, in the case of Knight, a few for-profits) advancing open government, voting and civic participation, among other related fields.
In many respects, there has never been a more exciting time for civic tech. Activity in the field has gone from sporadic to commonplace, and a growing number of startups is promoting civic engagement through technology. The 2016 presidential election fanned the flames of citizen engagement and highlighted the importance and urgency of developing new approaches and tools for giving citizens voice in democracy. Furthermore, the election spurred more foundations, private investors and high net worth individuals to explore funding opportunities for increasing civic engagement and strengthening American democracy. In recent years civic tech entrepreneurs and funders have lamented the extremely limited number of funders in this field, so the additional capital could be transformational.
But despite the activity and investment in civic tech, very few startups in the space have been able to sustain and scale their work. The field has struggled to translate prototypes, pilots and products into full-fledged organizations equipped with the capital and business models necessary to expand their operations and impact. Even the best-known organizations face very real sustainability challenges. Conversations with our grantees, peer funders and other practitioners in the segment have reinforced this reality that the lack of viable and proven business models has constrained the growth of civic tech’s impact.
We commissioned this research to develop a more nuanced understanding of civic tech business models. The research captured the perspectives of startup leaders (for-profits and nonprofits), funders (foundations, venture capitalists and angel investors) and other key stakeholders on the challenges of sustainability, promising examples of success, and opportunities. It builds upon Knight’s report on “The Emergence of Civic Tech” and aligns with New Media Ventures’ recent “Making Money for Impact” report about revenue models.
This report summarizes insights with the intention of advancing a more consistent, collaborative and rigorous fieldwide conversation about sustainability of the civic tech sector. We hope that the findings will be instructive for startups and funders, and that the report promotes a more sophisticated discussion about business models. We are particularly excited to continue working with others to consider and pursue recommendations outlined in the report.
As a field, we have spent considerable time lamenting the lack of growing, financially stable organizations. With a greater appreciation of the challenge, we’re excited to focus energy on changing the narrative.
To establish a strategic home for civic participation and engagement in Detroit that will educate and engage residents in the non-partisan public decision-making of city life.
To implement and further develop a trustworthy and accessible recurring public opinion survey so that Detroit’s civic and community leaders can effectively prioritize issues and design better programs, policies and financial investments that enjoy broader resident support.
To develop and execute strategic sustainability plans for the Jane’s Walk festivals in Knight communities.
For membership in the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, a funder collaborative advancing interdisciplinary and transformative thinking and philanthropic action toward more environmentally sustainable, socially equitable and economically prosperous regions and communities.
To design an all ages and all abilities bicycling network across Central San Jose and share lessons learned with a national audience.
To enhance Macon’s Medical Corridor & attract more customers to our anchor medical institutions by launching a Health Tourism initiative to attract new patient populations. MAP 1.1.a & 1.2.e
To support San Jose’s manufacturing sector and create work opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment through the creation of Manufacture San Jose.
MIAMI – October 19, 2017 – Parades, street theater, open-air debates, festivals: These were once part of America’s culture of voting, and Citizen University aims to revive them. Citizen University and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation are thrilled to announce the winners of an open call for projects that will generate creative celebrations and joyful public rituals that encourage people to vote.
Winners are being announced in Miami; Wichita, Kansas and St. Paul Minnesota. Projects selected in Akron, Ohio; West Palm Beach, Florida; Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Charlotte, North Carolina will focus on elections set for November 2018.
With $200,000 from Knight Foundation, Seattle nonprofit Citizen University is partnering with activists, artists, organizers and everyday citizens to launch initiatives in these seven cities across the country to generate localized, action-oriented projects that foster a stronger culture of voting.
“Ensuring people come out to vote is essential to building a stronger democracy,” said George Abbott, Knight Foundation director for community and national initiatives. “The Joy of Voting is a simple idea that seeks to change the culture around voting and make it more fun. Driven by citizens, for citizens it pushes people to get involved in their community in an organic and fun way.”
Through the Joy of Voting project, Citizen University aims to address a growing trend of lower voter turnout in local elections. The project kicks off this year with initiatives in Miami, St. Paul and Wichita, and will continue in 2018 in Akron, West Palm Beach, Grand Forks and Charlotte.
The Joy of Voting project derives its vision from an article in The Atlantic written by Citizen University founder and CEO Eric Liu, in which he asserts that it’s possible to revive 18th and 19th century practices of raucous, participatory activity and pageantry around elections.
“Instead of ‘eat your vegetables’ or ‘do your duty,’ voting should feel more like ‘join the club,’” said Liu. “Or better yet, ‘join the party.’”
MIAMI
Winning organizations in Miami include Comic Cure, Miami Dade College’s Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy, Engage Miami, The Plantain and the New Florida Majority Education Fund.
The projects range from Comic Cure’s late-night entertainment show hosted by Billy Corben, to a satirical video created by The Plantain. The New Florida Majority and Engage Miami will host several separate, get-out-the-vote themed parties in neighborhoods around the city, and local residents will discover unique, personalized yard signs created by MDC students on lawns around town.
WICHITA
In Wichita, the Joy of Voting winners are the League of Creative Interventionists, Episcopal Social Services, KMUW, Sheenika Medard’s First Gen Woes program, and Sara Dixon with colleague Stephanie Huff.
The projects in Wichita include a pop-up Voting Celebration Station hosted by the League of Creative Interventionists, ESS’ Soapbox Series that provides a literal platform for voters and public officials to share their thoughts, and a spoken word competition for high school students led by nationally recognized spoken word artist Sheenika Medard. Sara Dixon, in collaboration with videographer Stephanie Huff, will host Canine Candidates, a mock election with dogs as candidates, and videos that address the issues that Wichita dogs face. At all these events, look for a series of unique ‘VoteICT’ shirts and wearable stickers designed by local artists for KMUW’s initiative.
ST. PAUL
St. Paul’s winning organizations include Next in Nonprofits, The Theatre of Public Policy, Concordia University of St. Paul, Monkeybear’s Harmolodic Workshop, and Erika Herrmann of Arty Bark Park in collaboration with Shari Aronson and Chris Griffith. Citizen University is receiving support in St. Paul from The Springboard for the Arts in St. Paul.
The Theatre of Public Policy will host a mayoral forum on November 3 featuring all the leading candidates in this year’s race, with all their answers brought to life through live unscripted improv comedy. Other projects will take place in varied locations around town, as Monkeybear’s Harmolodic Workshop spreads the word about local elections with handcrafted puppets, and Herrmann works with Aronson and Griffith of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz to get the vote out among St. Paul citizens through a creative canine campaign. Concordia University students will be found at light rail stations encouraging transit passengers to fill in a custom “I vote because … ” banner while they wait to board. Finally, Next in Nonprofits will have real soapboxes at every polling place in the city on Election Day, inviting voters to climb aboard and voice their ideas.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Each project receives $3,600 to complete the work. Already underway, the diverse group of winners will implement their initiatives in advance of the municipal elections taking place on November 7, 2017. The 15 projects in Miami, St. Paul and Wichita will serve as models for what a vibrant, participatory culture of voting could look like.
“During last year’s election cycle, we saw such hunger and excitement around these creative, fun in-person activities. With just a little bit (of) inspiration, it was thrilling to see what projects everyone came up with,” said Ben Phillips, senior program officer at Citizen University and director of the Joy of Voting project. “We can’t wait to see what sort of creativity is unleashed around the local elections this year.”
Citizen University piloted the program in four cities for the November 2016 general election. This year, the projects move out of the federal domain to focus on mayoral and municipal elections taking place in each city. The local focus will amplify a key component of the Joy of Voting program: to unite neighbors around claiming power within their communities.
“Joy of Voting projects bridge the critical gap between the right to vote and the desire to vote,” said Sara Yousuf, founder and board member at Engage Miami. “These projects do the critical work of reminding people of the excitement and power that comes with taking part in the civic process.”
“Wichita Public Radio is thrilled to participate for a second year in the Joy of Voting initiative,” said Sarah Jane Crespo, director of community engagement for KMUW. “The energy it brought to our area last year was remarkable, and because civic engagement continues to be critical for healthy communities, we hope that it will continue to invigorate Wichita in this off year.”
“Springboard is delighted to partner on the Joy of Voting project,” said Carl Atiya Swanson, associate director at Springboard for the Arts. “Art and artists continually create experiences that bring people together and form moments of connection, curiosity and joy. Bringing that power and attention to civic engagement and the importance of voting deepens the role art plays in our lives.”
Visit www.joyofvoting.us for more details on the events and activities in Miami, St. Paul and Wichita.
Joy of Voting will continue in 2018 when it moves to four other cities around the country hosting local and midterm elections: Akron, West Palm Beach, Grand Forks and Charlotte. Check back here next year for information on getting involved in these four cities.
Support for Citizen University forms one part of Knight Foundation’s efforts to invest in civic innovators who help cities attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement. The foundation believes that designing places to achieve these goals is crucial to city success.
For more information on Citizen University, visit citizenuniversity.us.
About Citizen University
Citizen University is a national nonprofit based in Seattle that promotes and teaches the art of powerful citizenship. In addition to the Joy of Voting, programs and initiatives include the Civic Collaboratory, a civic leadership network; Sworn-Again America, a project on civic rituals; the Citizen University National Conference; and programs and resources to teach civic power. For more, visit citizenuniversity.us.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.
Contact:
Ben Phillips, Senior Program Manager, Citizen University, 360-305-8568, [email protected]
Anusha Alikhan, Director of Communications, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, 305-908-2646, [email protected]
Photo: Citizen University CEO Eric Liu at the Annual National Conference in Seattle March 18-19, 2016. Photo by Alabastro Photography.
To conduct a comprehensive economic analysis of the Macon Action Plan (MAP) to inform future focus and investments in the Plan’s Economic Development priorities.