We believe that democracy only works when we can see it.
Policy decisions at the local level matter. Our schools, rights, and safety are shaped by what happens in city council sessions, school board hearings, and other local meetings.
But, for millions of Americans, local government decision-making is invisible. The sheer number of meetings and inaccessibility of records leaves advocates, journalists, and organizations with no easy way to track the local policymaking process.
We’re working to democratize local democracy: using new technologies to build infrastructure that makes the work of local government accessible to every American in every community.
Our mission is to:
Summarize every public meeting in every community
The work of local government should be easy to track across towns, regions, and states. We hope to be a research tool for anyone hoping to understand local context and national trends.
Enable journalists to conduct more local reporting
We are no replacement for in-depth local reporting and we are not news. We strive to be part of the infrastructure that makes comprehensive local news easier by serving as a metal detector for local developments and a quick way to find recent context.
Empower organizations to influence local policy
A vibrant democracy demands informed advocates. We want to help organizations know when issues they care about are discussed anywhere in the country.
