Building Democracy from the Ground Up: A Conversation with Mayors

Cities are at the forefront of efforts to upgrade constitutional democracy for 21st century conditions. From expanding voter participation to making local government more open, transparent, and accountable, leaders are reimagining how residents interact with government and shape the decisions that affect their daily lives. This discussion highlighted how cities are creating more inclusive and responsive democratic systems through strategies such as participatory budgeting, community-driven policymaking, and cross-sector collaboration. Mayors shared practical insights on the challenges and opportunities of governing in this moment, and how local leadership can serve as a powerful engine for democratic renewal. Moderator: Danielle Allen, James Bryant Conant Professor, Harvard University; Director, Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation; Director, Democratic Knowledge Project-Learn at Harvard Graduate School of Education; Faculty Affiliate, Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University. Panelists: Mayor Haris Doukas, Athens, Greece Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland, California Mayor Lily Wu, Wichita, Kansas This was an event of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, co-sponsored with Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation. Learn more about our work at https://cities.harvard.edu.