ReportonReachandEngagement

July–December2017

IntroductionThesecondhalfof2017wasatimeofexperimentationandconsolidationforCivicHall.Ourcommunityteamlaunchedthreenewengagementprograms,designedtofosterstrongerbondsandbuildmorecommunityamongcoreconstituenciesofcivicentrepreneurs,organizers,andnonprofitleaders.Each,asyouwillreadbelow,arealreadybearingfruit.Atthesametime,wekeptupasteadypaceofeventsandworkshopsdesignedtobuildandenrichthecivictechecosystem,workingwithkeypartnersfromthepublicsector,techcompanies,mediaandcommunityorganizations.AndweintensifiedourworkonCivicHall@UnionSquare,winningastrongendorsementofsupportfromtheFordFoundation,whichgavethefirst$500,000inseedfundingforourplanningprocess,andholdingmanymeetingswithcommunityleadersandstakeholdersinvolvedintheproject.Thisreportdescribesthehighlightsofthiswork,offeringafreshsnapshotofthisdynamiccommunityasitcontinuestogrowandevolve.EngagementandImpactCivicHallfosterscollaborationandbuildscommunitytomaketechservesocialjusticeandcivicinnovation.That’stheheartofourmethodandmission.Fromourstartin2015,wehavefocusedoureffortsonmakingsurethatCivicHallisawelcomingspacewhereadiversegroupofindividualsandorganizationsdedicatedtothepublicgoodcancome,onadailybasis,towork,networkandcollaborateonaddressingchallengingpublicproblems.Startingthesecondhalfof2017,werolledoutthreenewprogramsdesignedtocreatestrongerrelationshipsandskill-sharingamongthreecoreconstituenciesinourmembership:civicentrepreneurs,communityorganizers,andnonprofitexecutives.TheseareourEntrepreneurs-in-Residence,Organizers-in-Residence,andDigitalSkillsforNonprofitsWorkshopsprograms.Entrepreneurs-in-ResidenceCivicHall’sEntrepreneurs-in-Residence(EIR)programisforcivicinnovatorswhoarelookingtogetacivictechproject,movementorcompanyofftheground,andwhodon’tcurrentlyhavethefinancialresourcestopurchasearegularmembershipinCivicHall.Specialconsiderationisgiventoapplicantsfromvariouspopulationswithuniquebackgroundsandidentitiesandtomilitaryveterans.Participantsaregivenadiscountedsix-monthmembershipinCivicHall;inexchangetheyareexpectedtocontributetothecommunitybyplanningandhostingatleastoneCivicHallevent(aworkshop,roundtable,skill-share)andbyparticipatinginonemember“showandtell”duringtheirterm.TheparticipantsinthefirstcohortofEIRincludedNancyVitale,thefounderofEyesUpHereProductions,whichspecializesinstrategicstorytellingthroughtheproductionofmovingvideocontent,podcastsandliveevents;AdamBardandLizGreenbankofStreetlives,acommunitybuiltplatformthatenableshomelessorpoorpeopletofind,rateandrecommendfood,health,shelterandothercriticalservicesinNewYorkCity;NoelleFrancoisofHeatSeek,whichmakesnet-enabledsensorsthathelplow-incometenantscollectthedatatheyneedtochallengepoorservicebylandlords;ElanaDuffyandJacquelineSilvaofPathfinderLabs,whichhelpseasethetransitionsofmilitaryveteransbackintocivilianlife;AbigailEdgecliffe-Johnson,thefounderofRaceYa,whichconnectskidstophysicsthroughplay,teachingscienceandengineeringwithacustomizableremote-controlcar;NancyVitaleofEyesUpHereProductions,whichisawomen-

ledproductioncompanyspecializinginstory-tellingforcampaigns;KeithKirklandandKevinYooofWearWorks,ahapticdesigncompanythatisexploringproductsandexperiencestocommunicateinformationthroughtouch;AnkeStohlman,JullieneGatchalian,andSarahSusonofLi’lStories,whichusesthepowerofstorytellingtopreparechildreninpublicschoolstobethinkers,problemsolversandinnovators;AaronGreenandLouisSongsterofYellowMagnet,amission-drivenconsultancythathelpssocialventuresmonetizetheirmodels;KeeleyDuffy,MartinFogelmanandChaseLiebowofPluto,whichusesdatasciencetohelpcompaniesmaptheirdiversityandinclusionpracticesandmakeimprovements;andSarikaKumar,KylynnGrier,andKhadijaHudsonofGirlsforGenderEquity,anintergenerational,advocacyorganizationcommittedtothephysical,psychological,social,andeconomicdevelopmentofgirlsandwomen.WecreatedtheEntrepreneurs-in-ResidenceprogramtohelpconnectthesecivicentrepreneurstoeachotherandtothelargerCivicHallcommunity.Duringtheirresidency,theyhaverunseminarsonsuchtopicsas“creativestorytellingforvideo,”howto“jointheteamyouwant,”theimportanceof“gettingthingsrightatthestart,”andseveralhavealsoparticipatedincommunitydemonightsandshow-and-tells.Attheendofthesix-monthprogram,EIRparticipantsproduceddetailedimpactreports,trackingtheirownprogressandaccomplishments.Herearesomeofthehighlights:

• WearWorks’firstproduct,Wayband,awearablevibro-tactilenavigationdevicefortheblindandvisuallyimpairedthatgivesablindpersonanintuitivewaytoanenddestinationusingonlytouch,madehistory.OnNovember5th,2017,ithelpedSimonWheatcroft(ablindultra-marathoner)runtheNYCMarathon.Hewasthefirstblindpersoninhistorytoruntheprestigiousracewithoutsightedassistance,andhis(andWearWorks)successresultedinafeaturestoryintheNewYorkTimesalongwithdocumentarycoverageinForbesandDiscovery.ThecompanywasalsorecentlyawardedaPhase1grantfromtheNationalScienceFoundationforresearchanddevelopmentinblindnavigation.

• StreetLivesbuiltaprototypeofitsplatformforcrowdsourcedinformationonlocalhomelessservices,andsignedupthreecoresocialservicepartnersandthreeroll-outpartners.

• EyesUpHereProductionsstarteddevelopingadocumentaryseriesaboutblackdomesticworkerswithWeDreaminBlackanddeepeneditsrelationshipastheproductionpartnerforthePopCultureCollaborative.

• Li’lStoriesexpandeditsprogramandcustomizeditslabsforTitleIschoolsandbegancollaboratingwithfirstandsecondgradeclassesatPS43intheBronx.

ParticipantsintheEntrepreneurs-in-Residenceprogramareenthusiasticaboutthebenefitsofbeinghere.SaystheWearWorks’team:“CivicHallhasgivenusaspacetocallhome.Ithelpedlegitimizeoureffortsbygivingusaccesstoawonderfulspacethathasareputationforhousingsomeofthemostexcitingandgroundbreakingcompaniesworkinginthespaceofsocialgoodandcivictech.Ithasalsogivenusconnectionstocohortmemberswho,eitherdirectlyor

indirectly,hashelpuswithwarmintroductionstofundingandtalent,gaveusfeedbackaboutourownproblemsandtribulations.Italsoservedasasortoffounders’supporthub,allowingustohearandempathizeourstruggleswiththestrugglesofothersgoingthroughtheprocess.”Organizers-in-ResidenceCivicHall’sOrganizerinResidence(CHOIR)programalsoranitsfirstcycleduringthesecondhalfof2017,withstrikingresults.TheCHOIRprogramstartedtocrystallizeinthewakeofthe2016election,asmanymembersofCivicHallbeganmeetinginresponsetoourSeptember2016“CalltoAction,”sharingthemanywaysthattheywereworkingtodefendcoreprinciplesofdemocracy,humanrightsandcivilrights.WiththebackingoftheCraigNewmarkFoundation,whichgaveCivicHalla$100,000granttoestablishanewresidencyprogramspecificallyfocusedonsupportingorganizers,andtheofferofbest-sellingauthor(andlong-timeCivicHallfriend)SethGodintoofferamasterclassonmarketing,wewereoffandrunning.TheCHOIRprogramofferedparticipantsafreesix-monthmembershipinCivicHallalongwithabiweeklygroupworkshopwhereparticipantsdrilleddownontheircurrentprojectchallengesandofferedeachotherconstructivesupporttohelpthemmoveforward.Inaddition,CivicHallco-founderMicahSifryalsoprovidedongoingone-on-oneandgroupmentorship.InexchangeCHOIRmemberswereexpectedtocontributetothecommunitybyplanningandhostingatleastoneCivicHallevent(aworkshop,roundtable,skill-share),andbydocumentingtheirprogressandprovidingan“impactreport”attheendoftheirsix-monthcycle.Inthefirstthreemonthsoftheprogram,CHOIRmembersmetbiweeklywithSethGodinforanintensiveseriesofworkshopsfocusedonanalyzingandrefiningtheirorganizingprojects.Participantswereencouragedtozeroinonthehardestchallengestheywerefacingintheirworkandfocusonallthebuildingblocksthattheyneededtolineup—fromunderstandingtheirtargetaudiencetorefiningtheirpitchtonarrowingtheirgoaltotheminimumviableproduct—inordertosucceed.Inthesecondthreemonthsoftheprogram,participantsshiftedintoworkshopmodewhereeveryotherweekthegroupmettogethertoupdateeachotherandcritiqueeachother’sworks.Thecyclealsoincludedadeepdiveintothewhysandhowsofeffectivefundraising.OftheCHOIRprogramsinitial18participants,13madeitallthewaythrough.Attheendofthisreport,we’veincludedanappendixwithsomeextendedcommentsfromCHOIRparticipantsaboutthevalueoftheprogram,buttogivejusttwoexamples,here'swhattheyhadtosayaboutwhattheylearnedandtheimpactitgeneratedintheirwork:RapiCastillo,founderofProgressiveCodersNetworkandProgressiveHackNight,communitiesofhundredsoftechiesvolunteeringtheirtimeonbehalfofcausesrangingfromaccesstohealthcaretoimmigrantrights:

“BeingpartoftheOrganizersinResidenceProgramhelpedmebecomeabetterorganizerandrealizeIhadapassionforit,andmaybeevenaknack.GrowingintotheroleofanorganizerbecameajourneyIsharedwithfellowtravelersonthesamepath,asweworkedtowardsempoweringandmobilizingothers….ThisledtoanimprovementinhowIledmyorganization.Identifyingthepeoplelikeusledtoeffectivelygrowingourhumbleteamandclarifiedwhowehadtoreachoutto.We

grewconfidentinaskingourattendeestoact.Webecamecomfortablerequestinghardasksandrefusingcertainopportunities.Withtwenty-fourHackNightsunderourbelt,withtwothousandengagedtechies,andwithtechnologyprovidedtohundredsofthousandsofpeoplethroughtheprojectswesupport,Iamproudofwhatweachieved.”

SandaBalaban,founderofCivicsUnpluggedandYVote,whichrespectivelyworktomakecivicengagementaccessibletoyoungpeopleandtodeveloppeergroupsofyoungpeoplewhoarecommittingtovotewhentheyturn18in2018:

“Anironruleoforganizingis‘gotowheretheenergyis.’Overthepastsixmonths,I’vebeenhappytodiscoverthattheenergyisatCivicHall.Thelastyearhasbyfarbeenthemostchallengingofmylifeonmultiplelevels.TheCHOIRhassupportedmethroughanimportantpivotpoint…Overthesixmonthsoftheresidency,I’velaunchedTWOyouthcivicengagementorgs,bothonashoestringandwithsizablerangeandreachforstartups—workthatIcouldnothavedoneabsenthavingCivicHallasabackbone.Bothveryintentionallybringtogetherracially,socioeconomically,andpoliticallydiverseteenstoengageindeepdialogueandtoexposeparticipantstoarangeofdifferentperspectives,nurturingtheirabilitytoappreciatemultiplepointsofview,promoteempathy,andfostercivicdiscourse.”

TherehavebeenalotofconcreteimpactsoftheCHOIRprogramalready.TheMovementCooperative,avotingdataandtechtoolcollaborativeoftwelvemajornationalorganizationsrangingfromtheCenterforPopularDemocracytoIndivisibleto350.org,gotoffthegroundasaresultofitsincubationhere.Rhize,whichtrainsandcoachesmovementorganizersworldwide,gotcrucialsupportforthemarketingandlaunchoftwomajorprojects,thereleaseofamassivereportcalledUnderstandingActivismandthesuccessfulmarketingandlaunchofAdoptingaMovementMindset—Rhize’snewvirtualcoursedesignedtoteachcivilsocietyactorskeywaystheycanprovidemoreeffectivesupporttoactivistsonthefrontlinesoftoday’smostcriticalsocialmovements.CTZNWELL,whichorganizesleadersandparticipantsinthewellnesscommunitytobemorecivicallyactive,launchedtwonewrevenuestreams—acrowd-sourcingplatformonPatreonandamembershipsubscriptionbridgingpersonalandcollectivewellness.TheNYCVeteransAlliancenotonlylauncheditsfirstmajordonorcampaign,ithostedseveralimpactfulpublicevents,includingadiscussionbetweenveteransofVietnam,AfghanistanandIraqabouttheircommonexperiencesandtwo“lunchandlearn”eventsonveteranspolicyinitiatives.BoththeEIRandCHOIRprogramswillbecontinuedwithanewcycleofparticipantsinthefirsthalfof2018(andsomeofthecurrentgroupwillbestayingonastheyfurtherprogressintheirwork).Tolearnmoreaboutthecurrentgroupsofresidents,seehttps://www.civiceir.org/awarded-residentsandhttps://www.civicoir.org/awarded-residents.LaunchingboththeEntrepreneurs-in-ResidenceandOrganizers-in-ResidenceprogramsthispastfallwasabigliftfortheCivicHallteam,butwealsoseethedividendspayingoffeverydaythroughthestrengthenedconnectionsthathavebeengeneratedamongparticipantsandwith

thelargercommunityinthespace.Clustersoftwoandthreeandfourpeoplesittingtogetherhavealwaysbeencommonhere,butnowweseemorecross-fertilizationthaneverbefore.Collaborativerelationshipskeepfloweringasaresult;forexample,asaresultoftheCHOIRworkshops,SandaBalabanenlistedsocialmediawhizJacksonBirdasapodcastproducerforherCivicsUnpluggedprogram,andsheengagedcommunitymemberIbrahimAbdul-MatintogivethekeynoteatoneoftheirmonthlyCivicForums.DigitalSkiilsforNonprofitsWorkshopsThethirdmajorprogramwelaunchedthisfalltofostermorecollaborativecommunityengagementherewasourfour-partseriesofNonprofitTechandToolsWorkshops,sponsoredinpartnershipwithmemberorganizationComcastNBCUniversal.Theworkshopswereprovidedfreetononprofitexecutivesinterestedinlearninghowtousetechtosolvecommunitychallenges,providingattendeeswithactionablemethods,toolsandtipsthattheycouldputtoimmediateuse.Thesessionthemeswere“designingadigitalstrategy,”“storytellingforimpact,”“becomingadata-drivennonprofit,”and“exploringnewtoolsforengagement–augmentedreality,virtualrealityandlivevideo.”ParticipantsincludedtheCityUniversityofNewYork,FriendsofBrooklynQueensConnector,Groundswell,LowerEastsideGirlsClubandtheGraceHopperprogramatFullstackAcademyofCode.TRACKINGMEMBERSHIPANDEVENTSAttheendof2017,ourmembershipstoodat481individuals,up32fromJune;plus522viaorganizationalmembership,andatotalof156organizationalmembers,up10fromJune.Here’salookatouroverallmembershipgrowthsinceourfoundingatthebeginningof2015:

Asthechartshows,wecontinuetogrowonboththeindividualandorganizationaltracks.Thesecondhalfof2017wasalsoabusytimeforeventsatCivicHall,withushosting249eventswithmorethan6,175guestsoverthecourseofthesixmonths.Comparedtothefirsthalfoftheyear,whenwehosted259eventswith8,343attendees,thiswasaslightdip.ButsincethesecondhalfoftheyearincludesJulyandAugust,whenthepaceofworkinNewYorkCityslowsdownconsiderably,andDecember,whenthelastfewweeksdissolveintoholidaypartiesandvacations,thepaceofeventsherehasstayedprettymuchatthesamelevelallyearround.EventHighlightsThisfall,buildingonlongstandingworkwehavedonetomakepoliticaldebatesmoreparticipatory,CivicHallwasaco-sponsoranddigitalmediapartnerwithNY-1onthethreecitywideelectiondebates(mayor,comptrollerandpublicadvocate)overseenbythecity’sCampaignFinanceBoard.WorkingwithouralliesattheOpenDebatesCoalition,wehelpeddriveparticipationinanunprecedentednewefforttocrowd-sourcequestionsforthecandidatesonline.Ineachdebate,atleastsixofthequestionsaskedbymoderatorscameviathisformofbottom-upcivicinput.Andonesidebenefitofthispartnership—lotsofCivicHallmembersgottoattendthedebatesinperson.

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OnAugust15,wealsoheldafriendlydebateofourown,examiningthequestionofwhetherNewYorkStateshouldholdaConstitutionalConvention,aquestionthatwasupontheballotherethisfall.SpeakersincludedStateSen.GustavoRiveraandtechentrepreneurandchairoftheNYCVoterAssistanceAdvisoryCommitteeArtChang.Respondingtotherisingcriticismoftech’sroleinthepublicarena,wecuratedaseriesofpublicbooktalksthatwereattendedbyhundreds.SpeakersincludedZeynepTufekci,authorofTwitterandTearGas;FranklinFoer,authorofWorldWithoutMind:TheExistentialThreatofBigTech,inconversationwithFordhamlawprofessorZephyrTeachout;andNoamCohen,authorofTheKnowItAlls.Theseeventswerealsoanexperimentforus—whileticketswerefreeformembers,wechargedthepublic$10perevent(or$25forallthree)andhappilyfoundthatthesekindsofhigh-profilebookeventscanbeasourceofrealincome.Asaglanceatourmonthlyeventscalendarwillshow,CivicHallalsocontinuestobeahubformanyofthedifferentcommunitiesofinterestattheintersectionoftechandthepublicgood.We’vepartneredwiththeHumanitarianBlockchainSummit,partneredwiththePlatformCooperativefolkstohosttheirconferenceafter-party,co-hostedthebiweeklyProgressiveHackNightwithourfriendsatThoughtworks,studiedhowtobuildtrustworthytechwithDotEveryone,andhostedoneofBetaNYC’scommunityengagementconversationsondevelopingthe“People’sMap”forthefutureofcivictechandopendatainNYC.Twonewpublic-sectoragencies,NYCDepartmentofVeteransServicesandtheNYCDepartmentofSanitationFoundation(FoundationforNewYork’sStrongest),joinedCivicHallthisfall,growingourcomponentofpublicsectormemberorganizationstofifteen.Andasinthepast,manyofthoseorganizationshavetakenadvantageoftheirmembershiptoengagethepublicandbuildstrongertieswiththetechiesandlocalorganizerswhoareattheheartofourcommunity.NYC311andtheManhattanBoroughPresident’sOfficeworkedwithustomarktheNationalDayofCivicHackingwithaDataJamhackathoninSeptember.Nearly200attendeesspentthedaytogetherfocusingonNYC311’sservicerequestsandexploringhowtobestuseinsightstoimprovecommunityboarddecision-making.Buildingonaprogramstartedthisspring,theNewYorkCityDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionranmoreofits“GreenInfrastructureGrantWorkshops”heretohelpNYCresidentslearnaboutfundingopportunitiesforthedesignandconstructionofgreeninfrastructuresystemsforqualifiedprivatepropertiesinNewYorkCity.Theworkshopcoverseligibilityrequirements,guidancethroughtheapplicationprocess,andadiscussionontheprogrammaticdetails.AndworkingintandemwithlongtimeCivicHallmemberorganizationtheNYCVeteransAlliance,weheldaninformative“Lunch&Learn”talkforveterans,familymembers,andserviceproviderstolearnaboutthenewNYClaw,LocalLaw119,thatwillprovidethestrongestlocal-levelprotectionagainstdiscriminationinthenationforveteransandmilitaryservicemembers

(andwhichwaspassedintolawinlargedegreebecauseoftheeffortsoftheNYCVeteransAlliance).Inadditiontothemanyindividualeventsthattakeplacehere,thebuzzofCivicHallispunctuatedbyanumberofregularlyrecurringmember-centeredget-togethersandworkshops.TheseincludeaMonday5:30p.m.“What’sYourWeek”workshopledbyourcommunityambassadors,whichregularlydrawsseveraldozenattendeeswhosharewhatthey’reworkingonandhowmemberscanhelpeachother;aFridaymorning“WeSparq”workshopwherememberssharetipsonhowtobemostproductive;amonthly“MachineEatable”lunchtalkbyandfordatascientists,curatedbyMicrosoft’scivicinnovationteam,whichspendsroughlyhalfofitstimeatCivicHall;amonthly“PressHowTo”lunchconversationwithtoptechjournalistsfrompublicationslikeWired,TheAtlantic,CityLabandDigital.NYC;aquarterly#CivicWomensocial;andamonthly“MemberShowandTell”thatfeaturesquickdemosandtalksbymembersdescribingtheirprojects’progress.CONCLUSIONAsweheadedin2018,CivicHallwasalsoonthevergeofabigchangeinouroperationalstructure,onethatonlytookeffectinlateJanuary,butthatwasbeingevaluatedaswemovedthroughthefall.Thatchange,whichwasratifiedbytheboardofCivicHallLabs,ourpartnernonprofit,attheendofthatmonth,isthemergerofbothorganizationsintooneunifiednonprofit,operatingunderthenameCivicHall.AsthisreportisbeingcompletedinearlyFebruary2018,wearecurrentlyinthemiddleofastrategicreviewofallouroperations.Aswetoldourcommunitywhenthisdecisionwasannounced,itwasdrivenbytwomainfactors.First,wewanttoexpandtheresources,programs,andtalentavailabletoourmembersandthecommunityatlarge.Bymergingourteams,wewillcreateamorecohesiveorganizationwithevenbetterprogramming,events,andmemberbenefits,andwewillincreaseopportunitiesforcollaborationamongourmembers,ourcommunity,andthelargerpublic.Second,becomingoneunifiednonprofitorganizationwillprovidethebestfoundationforustomoveforwardtowardandscaleuptotheplannedCivicHall@UnionSquare.Slatedtoopeninearly2021,thisexcitingexpansionwillincludeamuchbiggercollaborativeworkspace,astate-of-the-arteventsandconferencefacility,andanew40,000squarefootdigitallearningandworkforcedevelopmentcenterforunderservedpopulations.Byunifyingourtwoorganizations,wewillbemoreeffectivelyorganizedandstructuredasweplan,develop,andbuildournewhome.We’relookingforwardtocontinuingtogrowandstrengthenthiscommunity.Wetrulybelievethattogether,wecanorganizetosolvecivicproblemstoscale,andthischangewillhelpusfulfillthatmissionandbetterserveourcommunity.

Appendix:HerearemoreexcerptsfromtheimpactreportswrittenbymembersoftheCivicHallOrganizers-in-Residenceprogramfallcohort.Thesuccessofthisprogramhastaughtussomethingimportant:collaborationandcommunityarebestcreatednotjustbyofferingcreativepeoplewithsimilarvaluesacommonplace,butbyalsoaddingongoingstructuredworkshopsforacohortthatsharesacommonidentity.KristenL.RouseandOliviaMeier,NYCVeteransAlliance:

“Thankstotheresources,staff,andcommunitysupportoftheCHOIRprogram,theNYCVeteransAlliancehassuccessfullyadvancedthroughacriticalphaseoforganizationalgrowthandcapacitybuildingthathasincluded:Buildingandprofessionalizingourboardofdirectors;buildingandprofessionalizingourstaffofpart-timeemployeesandvolunteers;applyingforandreceivingatransformational$50,000grantfromtheCraigNewmarkPhilanthropicFund;andcompletingandsubmittingourapplicationsforboth501c3and501c4status.CentraltoourprocesseshasbeentheinternalconversationspurredbyourseriesofconversationswithSethGodin.We’vetakenconceptsandchallengesbacktoourboardandstafftorethinkourtacticsandstrategiestomoveouraudience,torealisticallyimpactsegmentsofourcommunity,andtoadjustourdefinitionsandexpectationsofmembershipinourorganization.Sethhasbeenatremendousinfluenceonus,andwewillcontinuetosucceedbyfurtherimplementingwhatwe’velearnedfromhim.BeforeCHOIR,wewerenoteffectivefundraisers;CHOIRhasbeenkeytoempoweringustoturnthisaround.”

JoshNussbaum,techconsultanttoIndivisibleandfounderofTheMovementCooperative,whichisbuildingagroupoforganizationsthatwillshareaccesstocriticaldataandtechtoolsforengagingvoters:

“TheMovementCooperativewouldnotbewhereitistodaywereitnotfortheCHOIRprogram.CivicHallprovidedaninvaluablenetworkofindividualsworkingatpreciselytheintersectionoftechnology,data,andcivicchangewheremyworkissituated.Thisnetworkledtoexposuretogroupsthatjoinedourcooperative;mentorswhohelpedshepherdmethroughanincrediblycomplicatedlandscape;fundingconnections;individualswhohavebecomecollaborators,joinedTMCasfoundingstaff,andexpertsintechnologyandsocialchangewhohavelenttheirexpertiseatcrucialmoments.….ThereweremanyaspectsoftheCHOIRprogramforwhichI’mgrateful,butattheverytopofmylistwastheongoingopportunitytocheckin,learnfrom,support,andbesupportedbyadozenotherorganizerswhounderstoodwhatIwasgoingthroughbecausetheyweregoingthroughitthemselves.”

JacksonBird,founderofTransmission,apodcastfocusedonraisingawarenessoftransissues:

“Itwasthroughexercisesintheresidencyaroundtargetaudiences,messaging,andpitchesthatIwasabletosynthesizeallofmyideasintothestrongestmission.AsIworktowardsrelaunchingthepodcastandbuildingacommunityarounditthatwill

eventuallybecometheTransmissionMediaCollective–anetworkbyandfortranscreatorstoincreasetransgenderrepresentationinthemedia–theCHOIRprogramhasadvisedmeonstructure,funding,presentation,personnel,andmore….thebestthingtheresidencygavemewasareliablesoundingboardandtheconfidencetomoveforwardwithmywork.MyfellowresidentshelpedmefindgrantsandfellowshipstoapplyfortofundTransmission,pushedmetoapply,andgavemefeedbackonmyapplicationideas.

SherryHakimi,founderofGenEquality,astartupthatisfocusedonactivatingindividualstocollectivelyadvancegenderequality:

“TheCHOIRProgramhascreatedastronger,moreintimatesenseofcommunitywithintheCivicHallcommunity,whichisreallynice.AsamemberoftheCHOIR,IfeellikeIampartofsomethingbiggerthanmyself;theknowledgethatIamconnectedandpartofacommunityoflike-mindedpeoplewhoareeachactivelyorganizingintheefforttomaketheworldabetterplaceinitselfisahugevalue-add.Leadershipcanalsooftenfeelverylonely.BeingpartofCHOIRhasdefinitelyhelpedmitigateforthisloneliness;it’sespeciallyhelpfultobeabletosharetrials/tribulations,highs/lows,andrewards/challengeswithagroupofpeoplewhonotonlytrulygetit,andwhocanoffertheirownexperiencesandadviceforhowtomaintainsteadinessthroughoutitall.”

KathrynJones,founderandco-directorofCollectiveAgency,anetworkofseveralhundredvolunteerswithprofessionalcreativetalentthatproducesdigitalmediaforprogressiveorganizationsandcauses:

“PerhapsaswediscussimpactIshouldbecitingbusinessmodelevolutionsandstrategyupdatesthatCollectiveAgencyhasimplementedasaresultofmyparticipationinCHOIR,butfranklythathasnotbeenCHOIR’smostimportantcontributiontothecontinuedgrowthofourmission.Runninganorganizationislonely.IhavethepartnerofmydreamsleadingCollectiveAgencywithmeandthebestteamIhaveeverhadtheopportunitytoworkwith.Andstill,somedaysfeelimpossibleandhopelessandlonely.Combinethatwiththepersonalfinancialstrugglesthatareinherenttorunninganystartupandthechallengetokeepmovingforwardcanbeimmense.TimeandtimeagaintheCHOIRcommunityhasbeenmybedrockandmyinspirationandanintegralelementtoCollectiveAgency’sabilitytogrowandtoflourishaswecontinueourworkofamplifyingthevoicesoftheprogressivemovement.IamsogratefulsohonoredandsofortunatetobeamemberoftheCivicHallOrganizersinResidenceProgram.Aftermanyyears,andanentirelydifferentcareer,atCivicHallIhavefoundmycommunity.”

ErinMazurksyandRachelDoughertyofRhize,acommunityofmovementmakersandalliesthatfosterssustainedactiveparticipationinsocialmovementsaroundtheworld:

“TheCivicHallOrganizersInResidence(CHOIR)programhasbeenamongthemostcohesiveandimpactfulcommunityengagementprogramsRhizehasexperiencedwhileatCivicHall.Ithasbeenextremelybeneficialtohavebi-weeklymeetingswithourcohorttoforgerelationshipsforco-learningandsolidarity.Wehavebeenableto

connectwithbotholdandnewCivicHallmembersthroughdeeperandmorestructuredengagementthaneverbefore.Thishasgreatlyincreasedoursenseofcommunityandsupport.”

KeiWilliams,BlackLivesMatter(NYC)andMovementNetLab,whichassessesandtrainswithnationalnetworksorganizingaroundenvironmentalism,fair-housing,andimmigrationissues:

“TheCHOIRisauniqueprogramthatIamgratefultohavebeenapartofpiloting.WheneverIenteredCivicHall,Ifeelasenseofcommunityifnotfromanyoneelse–IcandependonmyfellowCHOIRmembers.SethGodin’sinsightandchallengeof‘20questions’wereadifficultbattleforme.Iwasinthemidstofbeinginthreeorganizations,BlackLivesMattertakingupthemajorityofmytime.Seth’spromptallowedmetogainclarityaroundmyapproachandnextstepsasanorganizer.ItrulyappreciatethefriendshipoffellowCHOIRmembers.Organizersgivealotoftheirtimeandoftenit’salonelyroad.Beingabletowitnessandsupportthegrowthofdozensoforganizers,workingonvariouscampaigns,wasinsightfulandaffirmingthattheworkthatwedoischallengingbutnecessary.”

KerriKelly,founderofCTZNWELL,whichorganizesleadersandparticipantsinthehealthandwellnesssectortobemorecivicallyengaged:

“TheOrganizersResidencywastheperfectincubatorforustodesignandtestournewstrategy.Werestructuredourresources,recalibratedourstaffandprioritizedourworktoensurethatwethatwewereoperatingefficientlyanddirectlytowardsournewgoals…..Inadditiontoexpertise,thenetworkencouragedacultureofcourageandsupportthatgaveuspermissiontothinkbig,takerisksandfailforward.“