Join Akron’s first
Civic Assembly

Akron residents are coming together to help solve the housing issues in our city. It’s a structured, collaborative process, led by residents in partnership with government, that actually delivers real results.

It’s just missing one thing: your voice.

7 people in Akron talking

What is a Civic Assembly?

A Civic Assembly brings together a representative group of residents, selected by lottery, to work through a shared challenge. Think of it as a way of tackling big problems by bringing together the People, Process, and Power to make change happen.

Learn more

Help build the future of housing in Akron

Participants at a two-day training on Civic Assemblies in Akron, OH in partnership with the Federation for Innovation in Democracy

The Civic Assembly is selected by random lottery, so the group really reflects Akron.

Once selected, participants will:

  • Meet weekly from March–May 2026

  • Be supported with childcare, transportation, and other participation needs

  • Receive a $1,000 stipend for their time

  • Learn about housing in Akron from many perspectives and weigh the trade-offs of potential solutions

  • Help shape housing recommendations that will be shared with city leaders and the public

You don’t need expertise in housing or government. Living in Akron is the only experience required.

Apply for the lottery

  • "We have to rebuild our public sphere, but it can't look like what it looked like before. It has to be deliberative."

    — Dr. J. Cherie Strachan

  • "If we can't figure out how to build healthy people that have healthy conversations to solve our city's problems, then what are we doing?"

    — Zac Kohl

  • "We have to get people to the table who have never been asked, whose voices are never heard except within their circles."

    — Rev. Robert DeJournett

  • "I have sat on millions of committees and we have all these vibrant conversations, and then it just disappears. Dialogue is great, but action is even better."

    — Dreama Whitfield

  • "Civic Assemblies are a way to make sure that we hear voices that we don't normally hear. It's a microphone."

    — Lucas Blower

  • "Opportunities like this bring people together from various perspectives and backgrounds and give them an opportunity to be a part of the solution."

    — Carla L. Chapman

  • "With Civic Assemblies, people feel empowered, they feel excited, they want to put in the time and the work. I don't see anything else that has that potential."

    — Dr. Stan Rittgers

  • "How do we rally around the things that we have in common? We have the secret sauce. We just have to work together."

    — Dominique Waters

Find your place at the table

Imagine an Akron where everyone has a chance to collaborate on solving our toughest issues. That’s the vision of Unify Akron. Join this cross-partisan team of residents and leaders from across the city.