August 23rd, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan Key Points: Writing this story about the latest step in determining the future of the former Hughes Stadium site feels a little bit like answering the question: “Are we there yet?” The answer is no. But it’s a good time to explain exactly what’s ahead.
May 5th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan A civic assembly formed to help determine the future of the former Hughes Stadium land in Fort Collins has landed on a vision that includes multiple uses, with an emphasis on providing space and opportunities for Indigenous groups. The assembly wrapped up 30 hours of deliberation on
A civic assembly is done with its work on Hughes land. Here’s what it recommended Read More »
April 25th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan Corrections & Clarifications: This story has been corrected to reflect that the city is not required to own the former Hughes Stadium land. A proposed ballot measure would require the city to retain ownership and not lease or convey the property to another party. In the
Here are 5 proposals for the old Hughes Stadium that a civic assembly is exploring Read More »
April 15th, 2025, by Rebecca Powell | Forft Collins Coloradoan The clock is now ticking on two petitions proposing the former Hughes Stadium land become a natural area, just as a panel of 20 residents specifically created to explore all the options is getting started. A citizen group wants voters to weigh in on whether
April 13, 2025, by Adria Iraheta | Denver 7 A panel of 20 Fort Collins residents is working with experts and community members to develop recommendations on the most beneficial uses of the former Hughes Stadium site, which is zoned for public open land use. FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A panel of 20 Fort Collins
Panel of Fort Collins residents to decide future of former Hughes Stadium site Read More »
April 9th, 2025, by Blaine Howerton | North Forty News A diverse panel of residents begins deliberations on the former stadium’s fate FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A bold new chapter in community engagement is unfolding in Fort Collins as the City hosts its first-ever Civic Assembly, an innovative approach to public decision-making aimed at determining the future
Fort Collins Launches Civic Assembly to Shape Future of Hughes Site Read More »
April 8th, 2025 by Ian Harper | Hoodline The City of Fort Collins is setting the stage for community involvement with its inaugural Civic Assembly, aimed at determining the best use for the long-contested Hughes Stadium site. This assembly, a collective of 20 residents chosen by a democratic lottery to mirror the city’s demographics, is
Fort Collins Launches Civic Assembly to Determine Future of Hughes Stadium Site Read More »
April 9, 2025 by Rebecca Powell | Fort Collins Coloradoan “Informed by the diverse needs of our community, what use of the Hughes site will contribute most effectively to Fort Collins’ long-term vitality and meet the requirements outlined in the 2021 ballot measure?” That is the question that a “civic jury” made up of Fort
How to watch Fort Collins civic assembly on the former Hughes Stadium land Read More »
Jan 22, 2025, by Rolando Hernandez | OPB Listen to the podcast here. Note: The following transcript was transcribed digitally and validated for accuracy, readability and formatting by an OPB volunteer. Last summer, more than 12,000 Deschutes County residents received a letter inviting them to participate in a civic assembly, convened by nonprofit groups and
Deschutes County citizens come together for civic assembly Read More »
Jan. 16, 2025 – Dana Taylor | USA Today Citizen assemblies involve ordinary people participating in crafting policy solutions to community problems and have been around for over fifty years. Is this potentially a solution to restoring faith in our democratic institutions and reinvigorating healthy debate? Linn Davis, a program director at Healthy Democracy, a
Our faith in democracy is at an all-time low. Can citizen assemblies help? Read More »
Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan | Published 5:02 a.m. MT Jan. 31st, 2025 If you live in Fort Collins, you might receive a postcard inviting you to help figure out the future of the former Hughes Stadium site. Colorado State University’s football team played its last game at the nearly 50-year-old Hughes Stadium eight years
An Oregon county is looking for solutions to youth homelessness—so it convened a random selection of residents to come up with ideas. December 31, 2024 by Nick Romeo | ast July, an unusual letter arrived at Kathryn Kundmueller’s mobile home, in central Oregon. It invited her to enter a lottery that would select thirty residents of
What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics? Read More »
16 Dec 2024 Aided by communities of interest, City of Fort Collins staff, and others, the Civic Assembly Delegates will engage in a learning phase in which they become informed on a wide range of community perspectives and land use possibilities. Through a series of collaborative discussions, input from community members, and internal deliberation on
Community Guides: Invitation to Participate Read More »
22 Aug 2024 At the City Council Regular Meeting on August 20, 2024, Fort Collins City Council approved, with a 3-2 vote, the use of a Civic Assembly process to help determine future plans for the former Hughes Stadium site. Click here to view the August 20 City Council meeting agenda, minutes and video.(External link) While
Council Approves New Engagement Tactic for Hughes Read More »
Rebecca Powell, Fort Collins Coloradoan | Published 5:01 a.m. MT July 23rd, 2024 | Updated 7:54 p.m. MT Aug. 20, 2024 UPDATE: Fort Collins City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to use a “civic assembly” process to help determine what the former Hughes Stadium land should be used for. Council member Kelly Ohlson and
By GEORGE ANDERS of The Chronicle of Philanthropy | Updated 2:00 PM PST, December 11, 2024 BEND, OREGON (AP) — Eliza Wilson is a little nervous as she draws the microphone close, but she is determined to share her life story. “My father was a disabled veteran,” she says. “I first experienced homelessness when I was
Can ordinary citizens solve our toughest problems? Read More »
An effort in Bend, Ore., backed by big funders looks for answers to youth homelessness. George Anders, October 3, 2024 — BEND, ORE.Eliza Wilson is a little nervous as she draws the microphone close to her, but she is determined to share her life story — and its larger lessons — with a vital new
Can Ordinary Citizens Solve Our Toughest Problems? Read More »
📺 Watch Deschutes County assembly members describe their experience in their own words As a contentious U.S. presidential election comes down to the wire, a group of citizens from across the political spectrum in Bend, Oregon demonstrated another way to do politics: through group deliberation, analysis, and moving moments of personal connection and excitement. “It’s
In Oregon assembly, Americans show another kind of politics is possible Read More »
Kelsey McGee, October 6, 2024 — BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An innovative new way for Central Oregonians to weigh in on one of the region’s most pressing issues wrapped up its fifth and final day Sunday, preparing proposals for area officials to consider. The Civic Assembly on Youth Homelessness gave a representative sample of 30 Deschutes County
October 17, 2024 — From 14 September to 6 October 2024, a Civic Assembly on the topic of youth homelessness took place in Deschutes County in the US state of Oregon. On 6 October, Members of the Central Oregon Youth Action Board received the assembly’s recommendations. Later on, delegates from the assembly will deliver their
“Thanks for giving me hope” Read More »
July 30, 2024 — The Central Oregon Civic Action Project (COCAP), Healthy Democracy, and the Central Oregon Youth Action Board are excited to announce a Lottery-Selection event for Central Oregon’s first-ever Civic Assembly. The event will take place on August 1, 2024, at 6pm at the Deschutes Public Library. During this event, 30 delegates will
Selection Event for First Civic Assembly in Central Oregon Read More »
City Club Forum Floats Idea of Citizens Assembly to Tackle Topics in “Bend” Way Simon Mather, May 9, 2024 — A recent City Club of Central Oregon forum asked whether Citizens Assemblies — an idea which has been gaining significant traction worldwide — could be a fresh way for local residents to own complex issues
Move to Give Community “Seat at Table” Read More »
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Civic Action Project and Central Oregon Youth Action Board have mailed 12,500 letters to randomly selected households in Deschutes County to participate in a Civic Assembly focused on solutions for youth homelessness. Here’s their announcement, in full: The Civic Assembly is a democratic innovation in which communities involve
La primera asamblea se enfocará en encontrar soluciones para los jóvenes sin hogar Julianna Lafollette | Translated Jéssica Sánchez-Millar, June 26, 2024 — El Ayuntamiento de Bend y la mesa de comisionados del condado de Deschutes aprobaron un Memorando de Entendimiento con el Proyecto de Acción civil del Centro de Oregón (COCAP por sus siglas
Asambleas ciudadanas locales comenzarán en el otoño Read More »
The first assembly will focus on finding potential solutions for youth homelessness JULIANNA LAFOLLETTE, JUNE 25, 2024 — The City of Bend and the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Oregon Civic Action Project, agreeing to receive and potentially implement recommendations that come out of citizen assemblies. In
Local Citizen Assemblies to Start in the Fall Read More »
