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 be selected to represent Deschutes County in a Civic Assembly focused on the issue of Youth Homelessness that will take place over two weekends in September and October. This event is open to the public.
A Civic Assembly is a different kind of democratic process that brings together a group of everyday people to examine an important public issue. Residents are selected by lottery to reflect the community in terms of age, gender, location, race, and other factors. The result is like having a city in one room. Panels are coordinated by professional moderators, who help reduce the influence of political bias, instead emphasizing collaborative problem-solving and quality information. Research shows that Civic Assemblies handle even complex policy questions effectively and fairly.
12,500 randomly selected members of Deschutes County received letters inviting them to participate in the Civic Assembly. Additionally, about 200 letters that were distributed to residents without permanent addresses through local social service agencies. The deadline to respond by mail was July 23, but recipients can still express interest online via the link provided in the letter on July 28.
This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between COCAP, Healthy Democracy, DemocracyNext, Deschutes County, the City of Bend, the Regional Housing Council, Oregon State University – Cascades. Healthy Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit which works on innovative ways for the public to participate in local decision-making in communities like Deschutes County. COCAP is a local coalition that is helping shape a vibrant, inclusive community empowered by deliberative decision-making in Central Oregon.
