Citizens Juries: Empowering (and Re-empowering) the Public
Last Fall, we hosted the 3 weekend long Willmar Community Assembly, where a group of 32 citizens learned about the ins and outs of local government and discussed how the city could better reflect their priorities. At the end of last day, participants drafted a shared statement about what they were taking away from the Assembly experience. One of the shared conclusions was an acknowledgement that to create community change, “we need to come to the table, not just wonder what we can do.”
We need to come to the table, not just wonder what we can do.
This idea probably rings true for a lot of us. We know that when it comes to the myriad of issues brought up in the local news, on social media, and during casual chats with our neighbors, there’s something that needs to be done, but we’re not sure where to start. Or, we don’t feel like we’re the right people for the job. Or we’re too busy. Or we know voices like ours have been shut out in the past. We don’t want to stay silent, but there are countless barriers preventing our participation.
That’s where Citizens Juries, the Jefferson Center’s main method of public engagement, dialogue, and deliberation comes in. Citizens Juries allow people the opportunity not only to engage with the complicated challenges affecting their lives, but to truly understand the nuances and develop a well-informed opinion. While our Juries may only typically last around 3 days, their impact extends far beyond our time with participants. Individuals walk away with a better understanding of their fellow community members, new information about the issue at hand, and, as Anna Claussen from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy(our Rural Dialogues partner) put it, “the feeling and actual power to do something about the problem.”
Communicating Differently
Shona Snater, a Winona, Minnesota resident who has a background in wildlife biology, conservation, and management, participated in the Winona County Climate Dialogue and the State Climate Convening that followed. The Dialogue and the convening explored the ways rural communities could adapt and respond to recent extreme weather events and climate changes. Shortly after the dialogue, Shona applied to a job in soil health outreach with the Land Stewardship Project. A lot of her current work requires engaging with farmers, and she said the Dialogue gave her the tools to better connect with people who might have the “exact opposite opinions than your own.”
While it’s nice, Shona continued, to live inside an isolated bubble and talk to people who agree with you, it’s important to have those tough conversations. The Dialogue helped her realize what it’s like to be on different sides of engagement: “I was the one sitting there, learning to digest information with other people, so I can kind of see where a farmer, when they come in to engage with us on a small group activity, where they would be sitting.” Climate change isn’t always the easiest topic to broach. But Shona said the information and listening skills she gained made it easier to confidently talk with farmers about whether they see a connection between healthy soil and its ability to be more resilient to extreme weather events caused by climate change.
Like Shona, Michelle Toven, a participant in the Itasca Energy Dialogue, didn’t regularly meet with people who she might disagree with. But over 3 days of working with other community members to strengthen local energy infrastructure, Michelle realized “even though we had a lot of different worldviews, we mostly agreed on the issues.” Just a few weeks after participating in the Dialogue, Michelle announced her campaign for Grand Rapids City Council. She said she felt more prepared afterwards to meet with the public: “I think it was helpful to learn how to interact with people at a local level. If I do serve on the City Council that is something I’ll have to do regularly.”
Gaining a Voice
Public speaking can be terrifying on its own, not to mention trying to speak in front of a city council, legislature, or other elected officials. But Juries have helped participants feel more confident and prepared for those situations.
Erin Buss was a participant in the Red Wing Citizens Assembly, which also explored the structure of local government. After the Assembly, Erin began attending City Council meetings, and local school board and Human Rights Commission meetings soon followed. “At one Human Rights Commission Meeting,” she remarked, “I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to say, but I felt the responsibility to say something. I stood up, and I don’t even know what I said or where the words came from, but I got them out. That was kind of a pivotal moment in my experience.”
Like Erin, Shona said her experiences at the Dialogue “helped develop her voice,” as it was one of the first times she was given the opportunity to speak in front of a large group and share her opinions. At the State Convening Shona spoke with elected officials and state representatives who make key climate decisions. She said she appreciated the chance to speak out, because public officials “don’t like having their feet held to the fire, but that’s what we need to do if we want to see change happen.”
Learning Something New
When was the last time, outside of traditional schooling, you had time to learn something new? If you’re like me, you might read a few explainers, or watch a few YouTube videos until you know just enough about a given subject to not sound completely clueless. But the lack of continued education throughout our lives misses the amazing opportunity for all of us to learn together and share our innovative ideas.
Likewise, Shona said the Dialogue was the first time in a while that she saw a group of people brought together to collaborate, and added the Land Stewardship Project “also does that sort of learning, and sharing. I really think it’s a great way for learning to happen.” Christina Nelson, a participant in the Willmar Community Assembly, didn’t used to feel like she was part of local government. But after the Assembly, she “spent the past year since then going to City Council meetings and learning as much about what’s going on in our city as I can.”
Igniting the Spark
There’s no doubt each Citizens Jury participant takes away something a little different. But we have heard from countless individuals that afterwards, they’re ready to do something. They may not know exactly what that something is, but they’re not ready to give up the momentum, as one Your Voice Ohio: Vibrant Communities Jury member put it: “Seeing how much citizens like myself can help our communities by working with reporters makes me excited, and want to do more.”
People also apply to participate in the Jury for many different reasons. Erin was ready to move beyond voting. Christina was looking to make a bigger difference in her community. Both Shona and Michelle wanted to learn more. They also all had varying levels of civic engagement beforehand. But after the Jury, all felt more prepared to take on big community issues like affordable housing, youth involvement, and healthy farming practices.
While Citizens Juries are a great opportunity to engage (or re-engage) with your community and local issues, they’re not the only way! Going to City Council, School Board, Neighborhood Association meetings are a great way to find others making a difference. And like these Jury participants, once you start collaborating, communicating, and speaking up, it will only get easier to “come to the table” and invite others to join.
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