People-powered news on your local government.
Who we are
A network of newsrooms and community organizations committed to participatory civic media.
What we do
We train and pay hundreds of people to attend under-reported public meetings and publish the results.
We’re building a new public record
Your elected officials are making big decisions. Keep tabs with original notes, live-tweet threads and multimedia reports from Documenters in your area—updated daily
Chicago
Criminal Justice
April 8, 2024
Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability [remote or in person] Public Hearing with Police Supt. Larry Snelling
Live-tweeting by
Allison Leon
Chicago City Council [remote or in person] Committee on Public Safety
Live-tweeting by
Aryssa Burton
Chicago
Housing
April 10, 2024
Chicago City Council [remote or in person] Committee on Housing and Real Estate
Live-tweeting by
Natalie Frank
Chicago Department of Planning and Development [remote or in person] Community Development Commission
Live-tweeting by
Ayesha Riaz
Chicago City Council [remote or in person] Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety
Live-tweeting by
Chicago
Utilities
April 4, 2024
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago [remote or in person] Board of Commissioners
Notetaking by
Robert O'Connor
Chicago Police District Councils [in person] 5th Police District Council - Roseland/Pullman/Riverdale
Live-tweeting by
Sarina Shane
Cook County Land Bank Authority [in person] CCLBA Board of Directors
Notetaking by
Susan Carlotta Ellis
What our network is saying
Get involved in our community of practice.
A unique civic education
“How are your tax dollars spent? What are your elected officials doing? Are they listening to you? What is the process? That, as a Documenter, is what you have to show people.”
Susan Carlotta Ellis
Community reporting
“In almost every case for a meeting that I’ve covered, I’ve been the only person connected to the media that has been in the room.”
David Palmer
Local connections
“I've learned from other Documenters… I’ve learned skills that helped me to not just be a better citizen but also inform the type of work that I want to do.”
Isabel Sophia Dieppa
About this project
How our public meeting coverage supports local reporting.
How our public meeting coverage tracks policy trends and public input.
How our training modules build civic knowledge and action.
How anyone can become a Documenter in one of our local programs.