Nov 202014
 

Civic leaders who organize their key stakeholders to govern in the interest of the common good must first begin with civic imagination. This is a core concept in civic organizing that is owned and taught by all civic leaders who are building a base of active citizens: every decision you make in every place of Read More

Jul 292020
 
A Tribute to Dorothy Cotton

“So, I ask here, What’s next for our country, For the world? The same old questions and the same old answers? No! That just won’t do! A twenty-first century Citizenship Education Program approach, combining lessens from the historic movement with modern technology and new ways of seeing and understanding our problems and challenges, just might Read More

Mar 132020
 

We are pleased to share two videos of Tony Massengale, co-author of the Civic Organizing Framework. Tony Massengale demonstrates his distinctive presence, voice, strength of conviction in this 2014 video on collaboration. As co-author of the Civic Organizing Framework, we agreed there was a need for a new approach to political organizing. The outcome would not only Read More

Aug 182017
 
Reflections on Charlottesville

The events surrounding Charlottesville, Virginia recalls this conversation with Tony Massengale as we responded to media images showing the heartbreaking and disproportionate impact of Hurricane Katrina on African Americans in New Orleans. Our reflection focused on the inability to address these factors in a constructive manner. Read More

Feb 172017
 

The Civic Nonprofit Demonstration (CNP) of the Minnesota Active Citizenship Initiative (MACI) was launched in 2003 when Sean Kershaw became executive director of the Citizens League. In August 2015, Citizens League membership in CNP was formally sunset after many attempts to advance a civic organizing approach within the institution. The experience provided essential information for Read More

Feb 072017
 

Ensuring water quality is one of the greatest public policy issues we face today. All of the decisions made in all places impact water quality, however, in our current system, the problem of water pollution is seen as government’s to solve, with little obligation for other sectors to play a role, and little incentive to organize Read More

Feb 072017
 

Kowalski’s Companies has successfully produced a civic business model and is moving forward to ensure sustainability in the next generation. Over the 15 years that they have been a member of MACI, they have grown tremendously. They have identified these keys to their success as a sustainable civic institution:  having a strong and focused internal Read More

May 012016
 

These videos provide an overview of the Civic Organizing approach. The content is presented by Peg Michels, CEO of Civic Organizing Inc. and co-creator of the approach with Tony Massengale. Part 1 of 4 – Introduction to the need and key elements of Civic Organizing Part 2 of 4 – Defining Democracy Part 3 of Read More

Dec 012015
 

We are focusing on specific policy changes without focusing on the capacity for current systems to implement them. The authors are proposing that institutional governance is a primary public policy issue and applying that argument to the governing structure and capacity of non profits. The argument is grounded in the: The need for change based Read More

Mar 012015
 
Renewing the Public Congregation Case Study 2014

This Renewing the Public Congregation case study is presented by the Islamic Civic Society of America. Islamic Civic Society of America (ICSA) demonstrates the compatibility between Islamic and Civic principles in a democratic society. Members of ICSA are dedicated to governing for the common good while addressing the specific needs of the Muslim community. The Read More

Jan 092015
 

The Civic Governance (CG) case study was updated November 2014 and presented to MACI institutional members. Updates focused on progress made advancing our solution strategy, a new approach to water governance called Civic Governance, in three regional pilot settings – Minnesota St. Croix River Basin. Wisconsin St. Croix River Basin, and Como Lake Subwatershed in St. Paul, MN. 2014 goals for each pilot included testing our capacity to organize a CG infrastructure, produce an educational track to support expansion and advancing a Civic Governance Policy Agenda based on outcomes from organizing in our respective pilot settings. Read More