The Civic Change Engine
December 2025 · Houston, Texas

The Civic
Change
Engine

For people who want to do something about it. A map to learn, meet, volunteer, get trained, take action.

Explore the journeys
Pathways
452
Focus Areas
113
Themes
8
Journeys
4

190 million Americans want to engage with their communities. They're not apathetic—they're blocked. By complexity. By fragmentation. By systems designed for insiders. We're building the map that gets them unstuck.

Start anywhere.
Go anywhere.

01

Learn

Understand how civic systems work. Your rights. Your power. How decisions get made in your name.

How laws pass Your rights Local government
02

Explore Options

Find services, resources, and opportunities that match what you need right now.

Food assistance Job training Healthcare access
03

Get Involved

Connect with organizations and volunteer opportunities in your community.

Volunteer Join a group Community events
04

Who's Responsible

Find your elected officials at every level. Know who to contact and how.

City council State reps Congress

From curious to connected

Here's what a journey looks like. Four levels of engagement. Your pace. Your terms. Start where you are. Go as far as you want.
01
Get Started

Learn how your city council works

Your city council makes decisions about roads, parks, zoning, and local services. Understanding who's on the council and how meetings work is the first step to having a voice.

Read: What does city council do? Find: Your council member
5–15 minutes
02
Get Informed

Follow an issue you care about

Pick something happening in your neighborhood—a new development, a budget decision, a park improvement. Follow it through the process.

Track: Current agenda items Read: Staff reports
30–60 minutes
03
Get Involved

Attend a council meeting

Show up. See democracy happen. You don't have to speak—just being there matters.

Find: Meeting schedule Attend: In person or virtual
2–3 hours
04
Get Activated

Speak at public comment

Your voice matters. Public comment is your chance to tell elected officials what you think. Two minutes can make a difference.

Sign up: For public comment Prepare: Your 2-minute statement
Ongoing

Why this matters now

190M
Want civic connection
Americans who want to engage but face discovery and friction barriers.
More in Common 2024
67%
The Exhausted Majority
Tired of polarization. Ignored by platforms built for the 14% on the wings.
Hidden Tribes Study
74%
Want to build together
Americans who want to work toward mutual goals that improve communities.
More in Common 2024
35%
Don't feel informed
Young adults who want to participate but lack the knowledge to do so.
Citizens & Scholars 2024
$460B
Cost of disconnection
What loneliness costs the American economy annually.
Center for BrainHealth
1.4K
Civic organizations
Democracy orgs nationwide. Fragmented. Hard to find.
Bridge Alliance

For people who want
to do something
about it.

The information exists. The resources exist. The opportunities exist. Now they're organized.

Explore the Engine
40+ Research Sources