Blog Post
CivicMakers Team Strategy Jam
The CivicMakers Team gathered together for what we called a Team Strategy Jam on Monday, June 12th, at our office…
We believe in the power of inclusive, collaborative design to shape a better world.
RECENT WORK
City of Alameda Strategic Plan
A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda
View Case Study (A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda)Read Case Study: A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda![Two adults and two children are looking at and in front of two three large pieces of paper. They are in a large foldable tent or shade structure at the Alameda farmer's market. The pieces of paper are hung up on three sides of the tent. The paper has potential details and things to vote on that they'd like to see in the plan. They are allowed to place dots next to the statements they like.]()
Santa Cruz Housing Element
Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement
View Case Study (Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement)Read Case Study: Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement![From behind, three attendees are gathered around a map of Santa Cruz County in discussion.]()
5-Year Technology Roadmap for Berkeley Public Library
Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process
View Case Study (Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process)Read Case Study: Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process![]()
City of LA Workforce: A 5-Year Path Forward
A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles
View Case Study (A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles)Read Case Study: A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles![Several people are spread out around 6 different tables, writing ideas on post-its to help shape the priorities of the plan.]()
Accessible Design Workshop for Hawthorn Senior Apartments
Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.
View Case Study (Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.)Read Case Study: Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.![Digital rendering of the Hawthorn Senior Apartments]()
City of Alameda Strategic Plan
A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda
View Case Study (A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda)Read Case Study: A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda![Two adults and two children are looking at and in front of two three large pieces of paper. They are in a large foldable tent or shade structure at the Alameda farmer's market. The pieces of paper are hung up on three sides of the tent. The paper has potential details and things to vote on that they'd like to see in the plan. They are allowed to place dots next to the statements they like.]()
Santa Cruz Housing Element
Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement
View Case Study (Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement)Read Case Study: Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement![From behind, three attendees are gathered around a map of Santa Cruz County in discussion.]()
5-Year Technology Roadmap for Berkeley Public Library
Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process
View Case Study (Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process)Read Case Study: Developing a 5-Year Technology Roadmap through an equitable engagement process![]()
City of LA Workforce: A 5-Year Path Forward
A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles
View Case Study (A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles)Read Case Study: A 5-Year Strategy for the workforce development ecosystem in the City of Los Angeles![Several people are spread out around 6 different tables, writing ideas on post-its to help shape the priorities of the plan.]()
Accessible Design Workshop for Hawthorn Senior Apartments
Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.
View Case Study (Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.)Read Case Study: Co-creating accessible affordable housing with seniors, unhoused communities and people with disabilities.![Digital rendering of the Hawthorn Senior Apartments]()
City of Alameda Strategic Plan
A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda
View Case Study (A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda)Read Case Study: A unifying vision and concrete plan for the City of Alameda![Two adults and two children are looking at and in front of two three large pieces of paper. They are in a large foldable tent or shade structure at the Alameda farmer's market. The pieces of paper are hung up on three sides of the tent. The paper has potential details and things to vote on that they'd like to see in the plan. They are allowed to place dots next to the statements they like.]()
Santa Cruz Housing Element
Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement
View Case Study (Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement)Read Case Study: Expanding affordable housing through inclusive and equity-centered engagement![From behind, three attendees are gathered around a map of Santa Cruz County in discussion.]()
What We Do
We unearth insights and co-create solutions to public challenges through strategic planning, community engagement and human-centered design.
Listen
For every challenge, we come in with an open mindset and an inquisitive spirit. We help surface insights by engaging individual people where they are, in the way that is most accessible to them.
Learn
We dive deep to understand people’s pain points, needs, hopes, and fears. We examine how people relate to each other, and make visible the multiple, intersecting, and layered systems and perspectives that affect decision-making.
Make
We know what works in the real world, understand the unique challenges of the public sector, and want to see our partners continue to succeed. That’s why we work with our partners to turn learning into tools that build their capacity to take on future challenges.
Insights & Learning
Ideas, tools, and resources from our community of CivicMakers
![Team photo outside in a park on sunny day with plants in the background. Seven people stand in a row with their arms around each other. From left to right: Julian Gunter, Judi Brown, Brittany Henry, Eva Mas, Cristelle Blackford, Leah Tremblay-Adams, Kyle Wicks.]()
resource
Stakeholder Identification
Last Updated: November, 2021 A key step to engaging the humans in human-centered design is identifying your stakeholders. This framework…
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resource
Data Synthesis Plan
Last Updated: November, 2021 Telling a clear and defensible story with your insights is essential to transforming data into meaningful…
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Blog Post
Surfacing Insights from State Employees
The CivicMakers Team has been working with a state agency over the past six months to better understand how multiple…
![A session attendee's hands can be seen writing on a post-it. They have an open packet of background info in front of them, as well as a few crumpled up post-its.]()
ABOUT US
A team of pragmatic optimists
CivicMakers is a strategic consultancy and community of practitioners that believe in the power of inclusive, collaborative design. We envision a world where every person has the tools, skills, and capacities to advance collaborative decision-making, and every community has what they need to co-create solutions.
Who we work with
“Hands down best vendor partnership I’ve experienced in my public sector career … making a difference!”
Kelli Parmley Assistant Director of Human Resources, City of San Jose
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LINKS is a twice-monthly dispatch of ideas, events and opportunities for civic and social innovators.
