Watching the Vote from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Earlier this week, Lexington's Council voted all three of CivicLex's Civic Assembly recommendations forward to head to the public ballot this November!

It was such a special moment, not just watching the vote happen, but watching it happen as I was seated in the halls of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences for an event celebrating their Our Common Purpose work, surrounded by people that have helped CivicLex grow over the years.

The Academy itself has been so supportive of CivicLex, but I have to give a very special shout out in particular to Hollie Russon Gilman, Ph.D., who I met through her work with the Academy on Our Common Purpose and what would become the Trust for Civic Life. Hollie has been a constant advocate and cheerleader for our work, and to be quite honest, she's one of a handful of people who, if we'd never met, I'm not sure we'd be anywhere near where we are today. And, of course, without Hollie's infectious enthusiasm about assemblies, we certainly wouldn't have considered doing one ourselves. Thank you Hollie for always holding the door open for us!!

I'll also say that it was very special hearing Larry Smith, one of our Assembly members, quote the American founders in his public comment supporting recommendations while sitting in an institution that those very same founders built. It's not always easy to feel the glow of patriotism, but I sure felt it in that moment.

A final vote happens in two weeks, and if it goes through, Lexington voters will have the chance to permanently enshrine assemblies in our city charter, make council races more competitive, and hold our elected officials more accountable. Two weeks away!