A panel of the people
These citizen representatives came from all walks of life and reflected the population (see below). They brought with them different values, beliefs, and lived experiences.
In it panelists share their experience and present 12 policy recommendations directed toward municipal, county, and state government.
The Panel generally reflected the different ages in the population, although it was slightly more middle-aged than Michigan as a whole. More flexibility was afforded here than with gender, race, or people’s views on politics and coronavirus. This was based on the government’s 2019 census projections.
The Panel had an even gender balance of 15 men and 15 women, which accurately reflected the population. This was based on the government’s 2019 census projections.
The Panel closely reflected the proportions of different racial backgrounds of Michigan. This was based on the government’s 2019 census projections.
The Panel generally reflected the amount of schooling in the population, with a slight over-representation of those with some college or a degree. More flexibility was afforded here than with gender, race, or people’s views on politics and coronavirus. This was based on the government’s 2019 census projections.
The Panel generally reflected the geographic makeup of Michigan, with slight over-representation of regions with very small percentages of the population. These regions came from the government’s MI Safe Start Plan.
The Panel accurately reflected the political views of the population. This was based on Gallup’s State Ideological Identification data from 2018.
The Panel reflected the different levels of concern in Michigan regarding coronavirus, as well as people’s feelings about the Governor’s response to the outbreak. This was based on June 2020 Nationscape data from Democracy Fund’s Voter Study Group.
On Health
On the Economy
On Education
On Public Policy
They reached 70-93% agreement on the policy recommendations they developed. And many were transformed in the process. We’re now working on a groundbreaking documentary that shares their inspiring story.
The Citizens’ Panel on COVID-19 was the result of a collaboration between two non-partisan, non-profits, OF BY FOR and OF BY FOR FUND. The Panel’s facilitated process was designed and overseen by Robin Harkless, a professional moderator who has facilitated similar citizens’ bodies in Oregon, Minnesota, California, and Arizona.
The democratic lottery was conducted in partnership with Panelot, a team of computer scientists from Harvard and Carnegie Mellon University.
Co-Director
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Lead Moderator
Lead Producer
Assistant Producer
Moderator
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Moderator Support
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We’re a non-partisan movement-building organization. We don’t take sides on any issues and we don’t take money with strings attached. Our team spans the country and the political spectrum. We have different views on substantive issues but we’re united in our conviction that government should be of, by, and for the people.
Adam has over a decade of experience in the field and was instrumental in the launch of Democracy R&D, a network of close to 40 organizations advancing democratic lotteries in 18 countries around the world. Frustrated that this promising vision wasn't reaching people, he became the leading voice for shifting this field's failed approach to communication and to bringing about change.
Before dedicating himself to of by for*, Adam co-founded and led Democracy In Practice, whose work reinventing student government with democratic lotteries was a finalist for the Council of Europe’s 2016 Democracy Innovation Award. It was also featured on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast, in a Season 5 episode called The Powerball Revolution.
Adam has over a decade of experience in the field and was instrumental in the launch of Democracy R&D, a network of close to 40 organizations advancing democratic lotteries in 18 countries around the world. Frustrated that this promising vision wasn't reaching people, he became the leading voice for shifting this field's failed approach to communication and to bringing about change.
Before dedicating himself to of by for*, Adam co-founded and led Democracy In Practice, whose work reinventing student government with democratic lotteries was a finalist for the Council of Europe’s 2016 Democracy Innovation Award. It was also featured on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast, in a Season 5 episode called The Powerball Revolution.
George's career put him at the center of paradigm-shifting efforts in the worlds of technology, art, and design. But he eventually felt a call to dedicate his talents to helping turn our troubled country around. So he studied the history of social change from past to present. And along the way, he discovered the transformative promise of having citizens called upon to serve.
George's career put him at the center of paradigm-shifting efforts in the worlds of technology, art, and design. But he eventually felt a call to dedicate his talents to helping turn our troubled country around. So he studied the history of social change from past to present. And along the way, he discovered the transformative promise of having citizens called upon to serve.
Our advisors are some of the most prominent academic and cultural leaders in this field. Some of the most well-known include:
David Schechter – Democracy R&D
Lynn Carson – newDemocracy Foundation
Yves Dejaeghere – G1000
Chris Ellis – MASS LBP
Terry Bouricius – Vermont House of Representatives (formerly)
Hélène Landemore – Yale University
Brett Hennig – Sortition Foundation
Marcin Gerwin – PhD & Citizens’ Assembly Practitioner
Manuel Arriaga – Fórum dos Cidadãos
Liz Berry – Pol.is
Perry Rosenstein – Hustle
Patrick Chalmers – All Hands On
Renn Vara – SNP Communications
Michael Pappas – San Francisco Interfaith Council
Jamie Kelsey-Fry – Extinction Rebellion & New Internationalist
Oscar Olivera – Fundación Abril
Sally Morton – Sunrise Movement
Douglas Atkin – Airbnb & Purpose
Chelsea Robinson – Generation Zero
Rahmin Sarabi – Commonweal
Micah Daigle – Students for Sensible Drug Policy
of by for* is an active member of Democracy R&D, an international network of organizations (see map) and individuals working with Citizens’ Panels and other similar processes.
We’re a non-partisan movement-building organization. We don’t take sides on any issues and we don’t take money with strings attached. Our team spans the country and the political spectrum. We have different views on substantive issues but we’re united in our conviction that government should be of, by, and for the people.
Adam has over a decade of experience in the field and was instrumental in the launch of Democracy R&D, a network of close to 40 organizations advancing democratic lotteries in 18 countries around the world. Frustrated that this promising vision wasn't reaching people, he became the leading voice for shifting this field's failed approach to communication and to bringing about change.
Before dedicating himself to of by for*, Adam co-founded and led Democracy In Practice, whose work reinventing student government with democratic lotteries was a finalist for the Council of Europe’s 2016 Democracy Innovation Award. It was also featured on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast, in a Season 5 episode called The Powerball Revolution.
Adam has over a decade of experience in the field and was instrumental in the launch of Democracy R&D, a network of close to 40 organizations advancing democratic lotteries in 18 countries around the world. Frustrated that this promising vision wasn't reaching people, he became the leading voice for shifting this field's failed approach to communication and to bringing about change.
Before dedicating himself to of by for*, Adam co-founded and led Democracy In Practice, whose work reinventing student government with democratic lotteries was a finalist for the Council of Europe’s 2016 Democracy Innovation Award. It was also featured on Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast, in a Season 5 episode called The Powerball Revolution.
George's career put him at the center of paradigm-shifting efforts in the worlds of technology, art, and design. But he eventually felt a call to dedicate his talents to helping turn our troubled country around. So he studied the history of social change from past to present. And along the way, he discovered the transformative promise of having citizens called upon to serve.
George's career put him at the center of paradigm-shifting efforts in the worlds of technology, art, and design. But he eventually felt a call to dedicate his talents to helping turn our troubled country around. So he studied the history of social change from past to present. And along the way, he discovered the transformative promise of having citizens called upon to serve.
Our advisors are some of the most prominent academic and cultural leaders in this field. Some of the most well-known include:
David Schechter – Democracy R&D
Lynn Carson – newDemocracy Foundation
Yves Dejaeghere – G1000
Chris Ellis – MASS LBP
Terry Bouricius – Vermont House of Representatives (formerly)
Hélène Landemore – Yale University
Brett Hennig – Sortition Foundation
Marcin Gerwin – PhD & Citizens’ Assembly Practitioner
Manuel Arriaga – Fórum dos Cidadãos
Liz Berry – Pol.is
Perry Rosenstein – Hustle
Patrick Chalmers – All Hands On
Renn Vara – SNP Communications
Michael Pappas – San Francisco Interfaith Council
Jamie Kelsey-Fry – Extinction Rebellion & New Internationalist
Oscar Olivera – Fundación Abril
Sally Morton – Sunrise Movement
Douglas Atkin – Airbnb & Purpose
Chelsea Robinson – Generation Zero
Rahmin Sarabi – Commonweal
Micah Daigle – Students for Sensible Drug Policy
of by for* is an active member of Democracy R&D, an international network of organizations (see map) and individuals working with Citizens’ Panels and other similar processes.