Listening Sessions
To develop its recommendations, the Commission conducted nearly fifty listening sessions around the United States. The Commission cast a wide net to surface the personal experiences, frustrations, and acts of engagement of a diverse array of Americans. Through the listening sessions, the Commission generated valuable insights into what factors either discourage or promote democratic engagement.
Among the individuals who attended the listening sessions were: municipal staff and elected officials; conservative and liberal activists; independent voters; community leaders and organizers; scholars; teachers and administrators (K–12, college and university); college students; retirees; small business owners; underprivileged youth; nonvoters; rural, urban, and suburban residents; faith leaders and seminary students; African Americans, whites, Latinx, and Asian Americans; immigrants; refugees from Somalia, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Afghanistan; philanthropists; formerly incarcerated citizens and justice reform activists; and members of the military.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Focus groups with two groups of non-voters
September 5, 2018
Bar Harbor, Maine
Online survey of local citizens (organized by National Institute for Civil Discourse)
October 2018
Los Angeles, California
Pepperdine University–West LA Campus Discussion with conservative activists and community leaders
January 10, 2019
Calabasas, California
Pepperdine University–Calabasas Campus Conversation with municipal employees and elected officials
January 11, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Summit with California thought leaders
January 12, 2019
Los Angeles, California
(hosted by California Community Foundation)
Lunch meeting with community organizers and grassroots leaders
January 12, 2019
Lowell, Massachusetts
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
Discussion with Cambodian refugees (under the age of forty)
February 20, 2019
Lowell, Massachusetts
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association
Discussion with Cambodian refugees (over the age of forty)
February 22, 2019
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine
The Commons
Discussion with community members
February 26, 2019
Bangor, Maine
Bangor Public Library
Group discussion with community members
February 26, 2019
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth Public Library
Group discussion with community members
February 27, 2019
Lowell, Massachusetts
Private home
Discussion with political and civic leaders
February 28, 2019
Lowell, Massachusetts
International Institute of New England
Discussion with Congolese refugees
March 4, 2019
Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University
Focus group with Chinese immigrants
March 9, 2019
Greensboro, North Carolina
Independent Voting
Focus group with independent voters
March 11, 2019
Spokane, Washington
Whitworth University
Story circle and group discussion with students, faculty, and community members
March 14, 2019
Dallas, Texas
Southern Methodist University
Focus group with Indian immigrants
March 16, 2019
New York, New York
Union Theological Seminary
Group discussion with local faith leaders
March 20, 2019
New York, New York
Union Theological Seminary
Group discussion with Union Theological Seminary students and recent graduates
March 20, 2019
New York, New York
Exodus Transitional Community
Group discussion with formerly incarcerated residents and community leaders
March 21, 2019
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Women Organizing Women Network
Group discussion with Somali immigrant women
March 22, 2019
St. Paul, Minnesota
Knight Foundation
Conversation with community leaders
March 22, 2019
Lowell, Massachusetts
International Institute of New England
Discussion with Afghani refugees
April 11, 2019
Akron, Ohio
Knight Foundation & Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition
Focus group with community leaders
April 12, 2019
Cleveland, Ohio
National Institute for Civil Discourse
America Speaks community summit
April 13, 2019
Paoli, Indiana
Center for Rural Engagement, Indiana University
Conversation with rural community leaders
April 16, 2019
Farmville, Virginia
Longwood University
Three group discussions with residents and Longwood students
April 16–17, 2019
Farmville, Virginia
Longwood University
Sociology class discussion with undergraduates
April 16, 2019
Farmville, Virginia
Moton Civil Rights Museum
Conversation with community leaders
April 16, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Blue Grass Community Foundation
Group discussion with recent immigrants
April 23, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Offices of Frost Brown Todd
Discussion with conservative activists
April 23, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Blue Grass Community Foundation
Conversation with Moms for McGrath activists
April 23, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Blue Grass Community Foundation
Group discussion with young philanthropists
April 24, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Blue Grass Community Foundation
Conversation with grassroots activists and organizers
April 24, 2019
Lexington, Kentucky
Bluegrass Community Foundation
Group discussion with young professionals of color
April 24, 2019
Phoenix, Arizona
Ability 360
Conversation with community members with disabilities
May 1, 2019
Phoenix, Arizona
Independent Voting & Highground Public Affairs
Group discussion with independent voters
May 1, 2019
Phoenix, Arizona
Vitalyst Health Foundation
Conversation with local civic leaders
May 2, 2019
Phoenix, Arizona
Opportunity Youth United
Discussion with high school students
May 2, 2019
Phoenix, Arizona
Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service, Arizona State University & Center for the Future of Arizona
Discussion with residents, community leaders and participatory governance experts
May 3, 2019
Jackson, Mississippi
Focus groups with two groups of non-voters
June 4, 2019
Jackson, Mississippi
Mississippi Center for Public Policy
Conversations with conservative thought leaders
June 5, 2019
Learn more about the individuals - from California to Maine - who participated in these listening sessions, in this video.