Oakland Civic Assembly
2026 Oakland, california
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The Bay’s First-Ever Civic Assembly
Although dozens of civic assemblies have happened across the United States since the 1970s – and hundreds around the world – this will be the first-ever civic assembly held in the Bay Area.
This is also a uniquely collaborative community project. More than a dozen local organizations have been part of a Community Steering Committee, which has decided on the topic, co-designed the democratic lottery, and identified most of the background info that the Assembly will receive.
The Context & Question
Oakland, California is a city loved and cherished by many for its authenticity, creativity, and commitment to justice and inclusion, its ideal location for economic activity, enjoying nature, and relaxing, its beauty, and most of all for its residents, workers, and visitors.
Oakland is also struggling to provide adequate housing affordability, places for children, young people, and elders to engage in productive and stimulating activities, essential supports for a thriving entrepreneurial environment, support for artists, and consistent opportunities for all in Oakland to feel secure and welcomed in every section and neighborhood of the city.
Delegates to the Oakland Civic Assembly will work together to answer the following question:
“How do we transform vacant commercial spaces, storefronts, and lots to be sites for Oakland flourishing and resilience?”
The Organizers
This project is a partnership between several nonprofits and research organizations: PolicyLink, Healthy Democracy, UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab, and the Democracy Policy Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Public Good Group. Healthy Democracy (HD) is leading the design and coordination of the Civic Assembly itself. HD has nearly two decades of experience designing similar assemblies in the United States.
From the start, it was essential that the Oakland Civic Assembly be a community-led project. A Community Steering Committee (CSC) was convened in January 2026, and has met every two weeks to make key planning decisions for the Assembly. The CSC is made up of representatives from a dozen coalitions, groups, and organizations in Oakland, including Akonandi Foundation, Alameda Labor Council, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Black Organizing Project, Brotherhood of Elders Network, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, Faith in Action East Bay, Oakland Charter Reform Project, Oakland Metro Small Business Chamber, Oakland Rising, Street Level Health Project, and Unity Council.
What’s it like to be part of a civic assembly?
Hear from Delegates themselves:
from the Deschutes (OR) Civic Assembly on Youth Homelessness
from the Hughes Civic Assembly in Fort Collins, CO