Local Voices Network is a program of Cortico that aims to surface the perspectives and concerns of residents through facilitated community conversations (in-person or online) that invite anyone and everyone to the table to share their story and be heard. Conversations are recorded and transcribed with the goal of always centering the stories and experiences of those most impacted when important community priorities are being set.
LVN launched in Wisconsin in 2019 and now actively works with partners across the United States. Conversations are led by trained facilitators, and are generally organized by LVN partners who are engaging in an intentional listening campaign to inform their work.
In-person conversations take place around a Digital Hearth, which records the discussion and enables partners to share stories from across conversations in order to cross-pollinate voices and perspectives across community boundaries. Online conversations utilize the same structure and features, but use the videoconferencing platform Zoom to record. The conversations are transcribed to make them machine readable, and then analyzed with AI-based tools –– all with the goal of offering local community members and leaders a new window into the issues important to the community.
