On November 19, the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities at Bard College, together with the People’s Creative Institute, Columbia World Projects, and the NYC Civic Engagement Commission, will present “Democracy in Practice: A Model Assembly,” the second event in its three-part series “You Are Democracy: A Series on Collective Power,” hosted by Powerhouse Arts that focuses on democracy beyond elections. The event will provide an opportunity for New Yorkers to step into the role of participants in a civic assembly, a growing practice of democratic decision-making where residents of a municipality come together to discuss issues in their community and arrive at practical solutions.

The evening’s model assembly will be facilitated by Philip Lindsay of Bard College and Forrest Sparks of The Assembly Project, along with special guests. The event will take place on November 19 from 7 – 9 pm at Powerhouse Arts, 322 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215. Participation in the assembly is free and open to the public, with reservations required. To reserve tickets, please visit the registration for Democracy in Practice.

The assembly will focus on flooding and climate resilience. About 400,000 NYC residents currently live in high-risk flood zones, a number that is set to increase as climate change drives heavier downpours and rising sea levels, leading to more frequent floods that strain infrastructure and put lives at risk. Participants will discuss what should be prioritized in the face of these changes, and how the city can think more deeply and strategically together to navigate those challenges ahead.

Philip Lindsay leads the Democracy Innovation Hub (DIH) at the Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities at Bard College. Over the past three years, DIH has hosted annual national gatherings for advocates and practitioners of citizens’ assemblies in the United States, and has also introduced the “Doing Democracy Differently Teacher Fellowship,” a program that offers training to high school teachers on how to bring deliberative democracy into the classroom. Those interested in organizing a civic assembly and learning more about this deliberative democracy model can contact Lindsay at [email protected].

Post Date: 11-11-2025