A Civics Lab project is carried by a circle, a small group of people who already know and trust each other. There are two ways to begin a project, depending on whether you are bringing an issue or bringing a group. A third path is open to people who want to support the work rather than start something of their own.
You have a specific concern, a consumer dispute, a question of local government accountability, an environmental problem, and you are ready to take it on. A project begins with a circle, so this path involves gathering a few people you trust to work on it with you. Civics Lab helps you state the case, find the oversight gap, and build toward a first action.
What you bring: an issue, and a willingness to build a small group around it.
You already have a group, a few people who trust each other and want to take on civic work together, whether or not you have settled on a first issue. This path helps your circle learn the method and choose where to begin: how to state a case, how to find the oversight gap, how to work toward an action you can defend.
What you bring: a group, and a readiness to work together over time.
You may not be starting a project of your own, but you have something to offer: expertise a circle might draw on, experience worth sharing, or an organization whose aims align with the work. This path connects experts, advisors, and allied organizations with circles that can use their help.
What you bring: knowledge, experience, or an organization ready to support citizen action.
Describe what is on your mind and we will help you find the right starting point. Most people begin with a specific problem, and the circle often forms around it.
Note: this form is a working placeholder. Before the site goes to reviewers, it will connect to a live intake (Google Forms) that reaches Civics Lab directly.