Project
Civic Circles
Real conversations for a stronger democracy.
Civic Circles are small gatherings of neighbors, friends, colleagues, or family members who come together to listen, reflect, and talk honestly about what it means to live in a democracy today. At a time when so many people feel anxious, divided, or silenced, Civic Circles create space for honest conversation. They are not about agreeing on everything. They are about remembering how to listen, how to disagree with respect, and how to find shared ground where we can.
No script. No required politics. No shouting matches. Just a shared commitment to curiosity, trust, and the belief that democracy depends on people being able to talk with one another. A Civic Circle can happen around a kitchen table, in a library meeting room, at a coffee shop, on a front porch, or almost anywhere including virtually!
If you’re ready to start:
Host
Join
Endless ways to gather
Invite a few friends, neighbors, or family members for a meal or coffee and a guided conversation about democracy, trust, and community.
Bring together people of different ages to talk about what democracy has meant in their lives — and what they hope it can become.
Host a conversation at a library, faith space, school, civic organization, workplace, or local gathering place.
Invite people who may not agree on every issue but are willing to listen, ask honest questions, and practice staying in conversation.
Ready to start?
You do not need to be a political expert to host a Civic Circle. You just need a place to gather, a few people to invite, and a willingness to help create a space where people can listen and be heard.
Host a Civic Circle
Sign up to receive the host toolkit, conversation guide, and updates to help you plan your gathering.
Not ready to host yet?
Join the Civic Circles list to receive future conversation guides, resources, and updates from Issue One.
Resources for hosts and participants
We are building a growing library of tools to help people gather with confidence, curiosity, and care.
Resources include:
Host Toolkit
A simple guide for planning, inviting, and facilitating your Civic Circle.
Conversation Guide: Why Democracy Matters
A nonpartisan guide to help people reflect on democracy as a form of government and a shared civic responsibility. Keep the conversation broad, welcoming, and nonpartisan.
Guide to Tough Conversations
Practical tools for listening, asking better questions, and staying grounded when conversations get hard.
Intergenerational Gathering Guide
Ideas for bringing together people of different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences.
Topic Conversation Guides
Additional guides on trust, belonging, civic responsibility, local problem-solving, and other issues are coming soon.
Democracy needs places where people can still talk.
Civic Circles are one small way to rebuild the habits democracy depends on: listening, trust, humility, courage, and shared responsibility.
Join us as we launch 150 Civic Circles across the country.
