ABOUT THE MAINE CIVIC INNOVATION INITIATIVE

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“Civic Innovation: New ideas or methods that improve the lives of community members, the execution of government functions, and the practice of democratic institutions.”

 

The need for new approaches to civic problem-solving is greater than ever before. Today’s civic challenges are increasingly complex and often fail to respond to traditional approaches. At the same time, new technologies have opened the doors to new techniques of civic engagement, problem-solving, and creativity.

 

Civic innovation typically takes place in the following areas:

 

• Technology: Using new technological tools to solve pressing social issues and for the day-to-day functions of our communities.

• Entrepreneurialism: Harnessing the power of startups and entrepreneurs to solve civic problems through innovation contests, social startup accelerators, entrepreneurs-in-residence.

• Public engagement: New tools, both technological and procedural, to give the public a voice and role in civic matters, such as participatory budgeting; digital engagement; open government; stakeholder involvement.

• Next Generation: Youth Advisory Councils and other engagement methods

• Organizational Structure: Chief Innovation Officers; Innovation Teams; Innovation Institutes

 

Civic innovation is undergoing a renaissance in the U.S and around the world. Cities and states are appointing “Chief Innovation Officers” or developing innovation labs. Foundations such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies are putting significant resources towards these efforts. Programs that engage the entrepreneurial community to solve social problems are taking off. Participatory budgeting is growing in its use by American cities and towns.   

 

Maine, however, has yet to engage with these activities in a robust way. But we must, if we are to further our quality of life and address pressing civic challenges.  What’s more, because our cities and towns are relatively small, we have the ability to pilot programs more easily than most other states, and thus make Maine a leader in the field of civic innovation.  What we need is to create a catalyst for Maine’s civic innovation. The Maine Civic Innovation Initiative aims to play that role by taking the following actions:

 

1) Connecting municipal officials, community leaders, funders, nonprofits and the business community with national and global advances in the world of civic innovation.

 

2) Providing guidance to communities interested in setting up pilot programs, such as innovation-teams, innovation contests, participatory budgeting, youth advisory councils, and other innovation approaches.

 

3) Working with Maine’s colleges and universities to organize student/faculty “i-teams” help local communities solve civic challenges, and to develop coursework and seminars (more details below).

 

4) Conducting “how-to” workshops on civic innovation for elected officials, government staff, and community leaders.

 

5) Developing an online network of civic innovators.

 

6) Organizing an annual statewide civic innovation conference.

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WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Click here to be put on our email list. 

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