CONGRESSMAN MORELLE AND CIVIC GENIUS PARTNER ON INNOVATIVE REDESIGNED TOWN HALL

(Rochester, N.Y.)—U.S. Representative Joe Morelle is partnering with Civic Genius, a program of the National Civic League, to host an innovative deliberative town hall, designed to facilitate deep discussion with a cross-section of NY-25 residents.

This reimagined town hall is a unique opportunity for constituents to give input on a critical issue—democracy & anti-corruption efforts—and will bring a wide range of voices to the table for a thoughtful and productive conversation. The model leverages strategies and lessons learned from the National Civic League’s Better Public Meetings initiative, which aims to improve the quality of town halls, city council meetings, and other public meetings.

The deliberative town hall will have two main elements:

1. Residents will discuss the issue in small groups and give feedback on different policy ideas – both with each other and with Rep. Morelle. This format allows for deeper dialogue than in a traditional town hall.

2. To ensure that constituents from all corners of the district have a voice in the discussion, participants will be selected by lottery. 

Every resident of New York’s 25th congressional district is eligible to enter the lottery here. Registration will remain open until August 31 at 11:59 pm. Constituents who are randomly selected to participate will be notified by September 5, 2025.

“I make decisions in Congress based on what I hear from the people I represent—and I can’t do that without listening first,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “That’s why I’m so excited to partner with Civic Genius to create real conversations with members of our community. I’m grateful for the chance to sit down, hear what’s on people’s minds, and work together to build a stronger Rochester.”

“Let’s be real: town halls can be frustrating and full of conflict. Americans are hungry for productive conversations about the issues, and a suite of modern tools can make those conversations possible,” said Jillian Youngblood, executive director of Civic Genius. “We are thrilled to partner with Rep. Morelle on this innovative initiative to build a stronger working relationship with constituents. 

All constituents are welcome and encouraged to give their input here, regardless of whether they participate in the town hall.

Town Hall Details:

Date: September 25, 2025

Time: 5:30 pm

Location: To be announced

About Civic Genius:

Civic Genius is working to rebuild American civic culture through everyday opportunities to learn and engage. Our focus is on deliberative public processes that create better policy and strengthen relationships between governments and the people they represent. We are a program of the National Civic League.

About the National Civic League:

The mission of the National Civic League is to advance inclusive civic engagement and promote innovations in democracy to make decision-making more participatory, equitable, and effective. Founded in 1894 by Teddy Roosevelt and Louis Brandeis, the Civic League championed the democracy innovations of the early 20th Century. Today the League hosts the Center for Democracy Innovation (CDI), which works with communities across the U.S. to understand, test, and disseminate the next generation of civic innovations.

The League also maintains the Model City Charter, organizes the All-America City Awards, publishes the National Civic Review, sustains the Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map, helps cities measure their civic engagement work, and supports an extensive national network of local elected, appointed, and civic leaders. More information is available on our website, at www.ncl.org.

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