Author and facilitator Susan Clark led a discussion on strengthening local democracy Monday evening, June 22, at the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro. The event, co-hosted by the center and The Hardwick Gazette, drew nearly 100 residents from across the region.
Clark, a town moderator in Middlesex and co-author of "Slow Democracy" and "All Those In Favor," focused on what she called a "both/and" approach to town governance. She encouraged attendees to consider both the quantity and quality of democratic participation.
"We want broad involvement," Clark said. "We want everyone to be welcome. And we also value democratic quality. We want deep, well informed, empowered participation."
Attendees shared their own hopes for democracy, writing words such as "civility," "participation," and "compassion" on a board. Karl Stein, a local EMS and town health officer, said he came seeking "knowledge" about what Clark has done elsewhere.
Maggie Cleary, a librarian from Morrisville, described Clark as "like a superhero" and said she was "here to get ideas" for her own community.
Clark noted that only 15 to 27 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in local elections nationwide, according to the National Civic Review. She suggested select boards highlight significant issues separately to boost attendance, rather than burying them in budgets.
Originally reported by Hardwick Gazette.
Photo: Miguel Henriques via Unsplash. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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