What if we approach a design project not with the intention of fixing a problem, but supporting the people who want to tackle it? What if, as designers, we take to heart our role as conveners, creating systems that bring the experts in a problem space together to take on a shared challenge?

From 2017-2018, I worked as a researcher at the Emerson College Engagement Lab on a project that examined how legacy institutions and grassroots organizations are using media to convene people around shared interests and challenges. With generous support from the MacArthur Foundation, I visited with activists, educators, and designers in Boston, Chicago, and Oakland innovating and deploying civic media practice.

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