Co-Chairing a New Working Group on Local Democracy

Earlier this year, I was asked to co-chair a new working group for the American Academy of Arts & Sciences on how our field could better support local efforts to strengthen American democracy, alongside Martha McCoy and Archon Fung. For the past several months, we've been meeting virtually to discuss how national organizations, philanthropy, and more interact with local organizations and groups and what can be done to ensure that local communities are at the table. We plan to publish a report in early 2026, amidst the nation's 250th Anniversary.

This week, the working group is gathering in person for the first time at the Academy, alongside ~30 of the most interesting, brilliant, and dynamic people who are leading the work in their own communities.

My question to you, dear reader, is what do you think would strengthen the field of local democracy work? Is that even what we should call it? Do we need more funding? Or more coordination? Do we need more national work scaled locally? More local work shared across communities? Give me your feedback!

I'm excited to see so many friends this week, and am grateful to Jessica Lieberman and Betsy Super for asking me to serve in this role.

Also, check out this super stacked working group: Courtney Bengtson, Charlie Brown, Kayla DeMonte, Hollie Russon Gilman, Ph.D., Shamichael Hallman, Darryl Holliday, Liz Joyner, Matt Leighninger, Carolyn Lukensmeyer, Bridget Marquis, David Martinez III, Andrew Perrin, Steven Rathgeb Smith. Pretty good group!!