Mission
FOR 25 YEARS, THE CITIZENS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN TEACHING RESIDENTS IN MINORITY AND ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED URBAN COMMUNITIES HOW TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY AND CONSTRUCTIVELY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROBLEM SOLVING WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE. OUR TRAINING EMPOWERS CITIZENS TO RESEARCH, SHAPE FOR PUBLIC USE, AND ADVANCE PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS TO CITY PROBLEMS THAT THEY IDENTIFY. OUR EXPERTS PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIC ADVICE TO HELP THEM GAIN ADOPTION OF THEIR SOLUTIONS -- OVER 300 LAWS AND POLICIES SO FAR. CITIZENS ARE ALSO TRAINED IN A PROVEN, PRACTITIONER-INFORMED, NO-BLAME PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD PRAISED BY TOP NATIONAL AUTHORITIES. OUR TRAINEES' EXAMPLE OF NO-BLAME PURSUIT OF PRAGMATIC SOLUTIONS PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE TO FINGER-POINTING, PARTISAN IDEOLOGICAL GRIDLOCK AND DEMOCRATIC DECLINE. THIS WORK WILL EXPAND THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE, A "CITIZEN SERVICE" DESIGNED TO EMPOWER CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO CREATING A FAIR AND FUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT.