Assembly Teams

Meet the teams behind Akron’s very first Civic Assembly

The Civic Assembly brings together many people with different roles. Each team has a clear job. No one group runs everything. This structure helps make sure the Assembly is fair, open, and focused on real change — not politics or opinions from just a few voices.

ROOF LEVEL
Accountability, Evaluation & Impact Teams

These Teams keep the structure sound and provide oversight. They track results, protect fairness, and make sure the Assembly’s work leads to real change.

MAIN FLOOR
Outreach, Research, Deliberation & Support Teams

These Teams make the Assembly work. They design the process, support participants, and keep the community informed and involved.

GROUND FLOOR
Commissioning & Solutions Teams

These Teams lay the foundation. They set the focus and build the case: a clear purpose and real, workable solutions.

Here are more details about what each team does and who’s on the team from Akron:

Outreach Team

Connecting the Assembly to the community

The Outreach Team helps people across Akron learn about the Assembly and get involved.

This team:

  • Shares information citywide

  • Recruits participants, partners, and volunteers

  • Shares updates and results with the public

The Outreach Team includes community organizers like Carla Chapman, Dominique Waters, Kareemah Jackson, David Swirsky, Stancy Sykes, Arell Tee, and volunteers like you.

Research Team

Preparing clear and balanced information

The Research Team gathers information for Assembly members.

This team:

  • Collects data and stories from the community

  • Prepares easy-to-understand background materials

  • Responds to questions from Assembly members

This team includes the Greater Ohio Policy Center, students from the University of Akron, and volunteers like you.

Deliberation Team

Designing and leading the Assembly

The Deliberation Team plans and runs the Assembly meetings so everyone has a real chance to speak, listen, and be heard..

This team:

  • Designs the meeting agendas

  • Trains facilitators

  • Leads respectful and inclusive discussions

This team is led by Unify America’s deliberative designer Matt Byrne, local staff, and local facilitators. Interested in joining the staff or becoming a facilitator? Apply here.

Support Team

Removing barriers to participation

The Support Team makes participation possible, so folks can take part without stress or extra costs.

This team:

  • Handles food, transportation, childcare, and accessibility

  • Supports participants and volunteers

  • Solves problems as they come up

This team is led by Unify Akron’s Civic Concierge Dreama Whitfield and volunteers like you.

Impact Team

Turning ideas into action

The Impact Team focuses on what happens after the Assembly ends, so the Assembly can lead to real change, not just talk.

This team:

  • Tracks what happens to the recommendations

  • Shares updates with the public

  • Works with partners and residents to support follow-through

The Impact Team, first imagined by the alumni of Akron’s FIDE Citizens’ Assembly School in the summer of 2025 is led by Paula Christ and Valerie Cloud, with many forming teams of volunteers.

Evaluation Team

Learning from the process

Independent evaluators lead the Evaluation Team from the Federation of Innovation in Democracy North America.

This team:

  • Tracks how inclusive and effective the Assembly is

  • Collects feedback and data

  • Writes a public report on what worked and what can be improved

Commissioning Team

Connecting the Assembly to real decisions

The Commissioning Team is the public group that calls for the Assembly and agrees to respond to what residents decide. This makes sure that the Assembly is connected to real decision-making, with clear follow-up and public answers.

This team, including City of Akron leadership like Mayor Shammas Malik and Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville, who:

  • Confirms the topic and focus of the Assembly

  • Commits to reviewing the Assembly’s recommendations

  • Issues a public response explaining what will happen next

Solutions Team

Helping shape workable ideas

The Solutions Team includes local people who work on housing every day. This group helps Delegates choose bold and grounded ideas for Akron.

This team:

  • Curates solution ideas based on local experience and voices

  • Looks at what could work and what might not

  • Helps turn community ideas into clear options

Team members includes:

  • Kurran Bishop, Akron Landlord

  • Patrick Bravo, Summit County Landbank

  • Rachel Bridenstine, Development Finance Agency

  • Andre Clark, Akron Landlord

  • Tony Crasi, Crasi Company and Urban Neighborhood Dev. Corp.

  • Duane Groeger, City of Akron

  • Kyle Julien, City of Akron

  • Toya Kelker, Huntington Bank

  • Zac Kohl, The Well CDC

  • Eufrancia Lash, City of Akron

  • Steve McGarrity, Community Legal Aid

  • Jamie McMillan, Akron Cleveland Association of REALTORS

  • Erin Myers, AMHA

  • Imokhai Okolo, Freedom Bloc and Okolo Law Firm

  • Chris Richardson, Summit County Continuum of Care

  • Rochelle Sibbio, Habitat for Humanity of Summit County

  • Cheryl Stevens, East Akron Neighborhood Development Corp

  • Todd Tober, Tober Development Co.

Accountability Team

Making sure the process is fair

The Accountability Team is responsible for ensuring that the Assembly is trustworthy and does what it says it will do.

This team:

  • Reviews key decisions about how the Assembly runs

  • Checks that recruitment and facilitation are neutral

  • Reviews public updates and reports

  • Confirms that the process is fair and honest

The Accountability is a cross-partisan team of local leaders:

  • Lynne Callahan, Retired Judge and Police Officer

  • Mike Cunnington, Enbridge Gas Ohio

  • Robert DeJournett, Pastor, St Ashworth COGIC and Founder & CEO, Black Chamber of Commerce Summit County

  • Judi Hill, Akron NAACP President

  • Tim Miller, Former Akron and Ohio State School Board 

  • Emma Lieberth Osborn, City of Akron, Policy & Grant Strategist

  • Dr. J. Cherie Strachan, University of Akron, Director, Ray Bliss Institute of Applied Politics 

  • Laurie Zuckerman, Community Philanthropist & President Zuckerman Consulting Group, Facilitator 

Other Support

Morgan Lasher, Unify America’s Chief of U.S. Democracy Leagues, lives in Akron and leads the initiative.

Sue Lacy, senior convening consultant and long-term local facilitator, supports and facilitates the Commissioning, Solutions, and Accountability teams.

Carol Sahley, senior consultant, with decades of experience in international democracy and at USAID, supports the creation of ongoing learning and playbooks.

Darryl Holliday, Roger Riddle, and Amp Strategy support the local media connections and storytelling

Theresa Augustin supports digital and technology needs.

Kelly McHood supports events and production.

Talaya Hatcher is Unify Akron's intern.

Unify America's national staff supports with elements including strategy, fundraising, creative, accounting, human resources, deliberative design, and research.

Interested in Volunteering?