The US Initiative

Civic Engagement Using Microsoft’s TownHall

Although only 20 experts will gather in Detroit November 10-11 for the Community Challenge, thousands of citizens will be able to share their ideas using Microsoft’s TownHall.

TownHall is a low-cost technology that allows online users to contribute ideas, vote on ideas, comment on ideas and earn badges for their participation. 

For the Community Challenge, TownHall will be used to invite ideas to amplify the top three factors —social offerings, openness and aesthetics—that attach citizens to their community, as revealed by the Gallup/Knight Foundation Soul of the Community Poll.  Online participants will also be asked to suggest demonstration projects for Community Challenge support.

Thanks very much to Microsoft for its generous support of the Community Challenge with its TownHall technology.  We’ll report not only on the ideas submitted but also on our experience with the technology.