Meet 'First Wave' Cities in Orlando, Tues. Oct. 21st

For anyone interested in community building:

Democratic Governance at the Neighborhood Level: 

What Have We Learned?

 

An event organized by Grassroots Grantmakers and the

Deliberative Democracy Consortium, with assistance from

the National League of Cities and NeighborWorks America

November 11^th, 2008, 9am-5pm

Orlando, FL

Thirty years ago, a new democratic experiment began in a handful of American cities. In Portland, Oregon, and a number of other places, local governments created neighborhood council systems as a way of engaging citizens in public decision-making and problem-solving.

What have we learned from these civic experiments? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What lessons do they offer about how to initiate, recruit for, staff, support, and fund neighborhood-level democracy?

Please join us for a stimulating, interactive day-long session in Orlando! The meeting will feature representatives from Portland and other ‘first wave’ cities in the morning, then turn to a broader discussion of lessons and potential innovations in the afternoon.  

The cost of the event will be $50 (to cover breakfast, lunch, and coffee). To RSVP, please contact Matt Leighninger at mattleighninger@earthlink.net by October 21^st. 

Portland and its Five Year Plan.