CivicLex

ORG #29 — CivicLex
In Lexington, Kentucky, Richard Young noticed something simple but profound: most people had no idea what was happening in their local government — even though it shaped nearly everything about their lives. So he started CivicLex, a nonprofit that helps residents understand, engage with, and influence local decisions. They translate city budgets into plain English, host forums on planning and zoning, and create tools that help people track policy in real time. The breakthrough isn’t flashy tech or big campaigns — it’s making local democracy accessible, issue by issue, neighborhood by neighborhood. Critics might ask whether this really moves the needle — but CivicLex has shown that when people understand what’s going on, they show up, speak out, and shift outcomes. Their approach is catching on in other mid-sized cities and rural regions, offering a blueprint for civic repair beyond national politics. In an age of polarization and disconnect, CivicLex is quietly rebuilding the foundation: government that people can actually see, understand, and shape.

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