Democratic Beliefs

The Civic Organizing Framework is based upon the democratic belief in the people as the basis for producing a just society. Leaders operationalize these beliefs as governing principles within their particular institutional purpose and goals. The outcome produces a new approach to policy making that organizes the civic capacity and civic infrastructure needed to govern for the common good.

We believe in

Human Capacity

Every individual has the capacity to know what is good, to grow in that knowledge, to govern for the common good, and to be a co-producer of justice in the world.

Democracy

Democracy—rule by “the people”—is the best form of human governance to produce a just society, if the people have the civic imagination and capacity to govern in the tension between particular interests and democratic principles that apply to the whole.

Active Citizenship

Individuals are policy makers. Their decisions leverage resources that impact the well-being of themselves, others, and future generations. In a democracy, citizens are obligated to develop the capacity to govern in the tension between their particular interests and what is good for the whole. The outcome produces greater justice. Individuals learn and practice active citizenship in the institutions of family, faith, community, work, learning, and governance. As a result of their contributions, citizens also share in the benefits the society has to offer.

Political Competence

Politics is the “work of the citizen.” Citizens must develop the political interest, discipline, and skills needed to fulfill the obligation to govern for the common good.

Institutional Efficacy

Institutions form the infrastructure needed to produce the mindset, resources, and practices that sustain the core cultural identity from generation to generation. In a democracy, all institutions meet a particular human need for family, faith, community, work, learning, governance and a common need to produce the civic capacity and civic infrastructure to sustain democracy as a just system of governance. When institutions do not meet these needs, citizens are obligated to organize them so that they do.

Insights
- 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
- Tony Massengale: In His Own Words
  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
- 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
- Introduction to Civic Organizing Videos
  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
- Frequently Asked Questions about Civic Organizing
  The questions most frequently asked by organization and community leaders who are exploring civic organizing reveal the immediate interests common to leaders across settings: How do we get the right stakeholders at the table to address an issue and organize ownership across their diversity to implement solution strategies? How can we organize a base of Read More
- A Civic Business: Kowalski’s Markets and Democratic Principles at Work
  Kowalski’s Markets has dedicated substantial resources in terms of time and money to send all of their leadership personnel through an in-depth training course on civic organizing and civic leadership. Kowalski’s has undertaken a new approach to policy making, based on democratic practices, which we use to solve business issues and meet our goals. Read More
- How Citizens Use Politics to Act
  Human beings are political by nature. Politics is what we do when we define problems and advance solution strategies. In the process, we follow, set, ignore, or break rules.
  
  Politics is always grounded in a set of principles or values that justifies the need to take action and achieve our purpose. Read More
- Politics We Need
  Many individuals and systems have chosen to disassociate with politics—some even openly speak out against politics. Even politicians say, “Oh, it’s just political” as if the process that defines their work is degrading. When I hear politicians say this, I think, would a teacher say, “Oh, that’s just education” referring to teaching as if it were evil. Read More
- Why Tony Massengale and I Co-authored
  the Civic Organizing Framework
  
  In the realization that something is wrong with the very civic fabric of our society rather than simply the ethics of individuals or any one sector, Tony Massengale and I (with the help of many key partners) co-authored the Civic Organizing Framework. Read More
- Politics is Everybody’s Work
  Like a lot of people, I used to think politics was just about government, elections, and politicians. The word conjured images of power brokers and back room deals and had little, if anything, to do with me. As a leader in the Minnesota Active Citizenship Initiative (MACI), my understanding of politics has deepened and changed, Read More
- From What If to What’s Next in Public Policy
  Just to make myself miserable, I’ll sometimes play the “what if” game. What if I could have known the recent recession was coming? What would I have done differently with my family’s resources, or the Citizens League’s? Ah, how the world would be different if I had only known. Minnesota is in the middle of its own financial “what if” game right now, except that…we know what’s coming. Read More
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Case Studies
- Civic Nonprofit: 2016 Case Study
  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
- Civic Governance: 2016 Case Study
  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
- Civic Business: 2016 Case Study
  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
- Civic Nonprofit Case Study 2015
  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
- 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
- Civic Governance Case Study 2014
  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
- Civic Governance Case Study 2013
  We are testing a framework and approach, called Civic Governance (also called Civic Policymaking), as a strategy for transitioning our current approach to watershed governance to a civic approach. We are intentionally moving away from an expert-based, government-agency-driven system, toward one that is partnership-based and made up of citizens across our watersheds so that governing our waters is within the role and responsibility of all citizen leaders, from public and private sectors, throughout Minnesota. We have established three pilot projects to test this approach: two in the mostly rural St. Croix River Basin and one in the mostly urban Como Lake watershed. Read More
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