Town Meetings
America Speaks
These large scale forums are composed of anywhere from 300 to 5000 participants. They involve citizens in public decision making processes at local, regional and national levels. Dialogue is supported by keypad polling, groupware computers and interactive television. Representative groups of citizens are recruited through a variety of means, including grassroots organizing and the media. All major stakeholders are engaged in the process and a clear link to decision making is established from the start.
Examples:
Listening to the City: Rebuilding Lower Manhattan, 2002.
Neighborhood Action: Washington, D.C. Strategic Plan and Budget, 1999-2002
Reading:
21st Century Town Meeting
Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer and Steve Brigham, “Taking Democracy to scale: Creating a Town Hall Meeting for the 21st Century,” National Civic Review, 9(4), winter 2002.
IPAC Events
