CivicLex in the News

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CivicLex hosts community breakfast to educate people on city government

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - For the past five years, CivicLex has hosted events and created resources to make local politics more digestible for Lexingtonians. Saturday, they hosted a civic breakfast to explain what’s happening at city hall.

“We are really excited to tell you about some of the things that happened at city hall,” said Jillian Riseman with CivicLex. CivicLex is a non-profit organization working to build civic health through education, media, and relationship building.

WKYT | January 27, 2024

CivicLex Chat: What shape might Lexington's source-of-income ordinance take if Frankfort weighs in?

On this week's installment, CivicLex's Kit Anderson returns to discuss the ongoing tug-of-war over source-of-income anti-discrimination efforts, if the city will continue some form of housing assistance with federal dollars drying up, and CivicLex's proposals to increase civic engagement with council.

WUKY | January 22, 2024

As independent local news publishers reimagine business models, they face a fresh set of challenges

News outlets like The Food Section, CivicLex and Conecta Arizona are blazing trails in local publishing — with plenty of new obstacles along the way.

Poynter | January 11, 2024

American Democracy Is at a Low Point. We Need To Strengthen It at the Local Level.

If we want to continue our shared American experiment, we must foster communities with strong civic health. An op-ed by executive director Richard Young.

Next City | December 11, 2023

Richard Young: Local news must help “build a civic life worth participating in”

Richard Young on the possibilities for expanding and diversifying civic participation when changing how we think about local news.

The Objective | December 5, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Boundary expansion input time, an update on the consent decree — remember that?, and the latest on a gun violence task force

In this installment, we chat with CivicLex's Jillian Riseman about a chance this Wednesday to add your two cents on a range of issues connected to the Urban Service Boundary expansion, an update on the ongoing Consent Decree, and how the latest effort to curb gun violence is unfolding.

WUKY | December 4, 2023

CivicLex Chat: When the city expanded in 1996, the plan for funding infrastructure led to some headaches. Now the city is weighing other options.

In this installment of the the CivicLex Chat, we talk with Kit Anderson about meetings coming up on the comprehensive plan, source of income discrimination, and other issues. Plus we hear about why the city is looking to scrap its old infrastructure funding program for Lexington's expansion areas.

WUKY | November 27, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Public gets a chance to sound off on tenants' rights, code enforcement, as council weighs extending alcohol sales hours

In this episode, we chat with CivicLex's Jillian Riseman about public meetings and town halls geared toward getting input on source of income discrimination and code enforcement. Sunday alcohol sales will also be discussed in committee.

WUKY | November 13, 2023

CivicLex Chat: How council divvied up Lexington's sizable fund balance, residents get another chance to explore urban growth plans, and more

In this week's installment, we chat with CivicLex's Jillian Riseman about the projects that did and didn't quite make the cut as city leaders decided how to use the city's leftover fund balance, CivicLex's upcoming birthday, and get a reminder about local races on the ballot.

WUKY | November 6, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Fund balance decisions, new ADU rules on the move, and a recap of urban service boundary changes

In this week's episode, we chat with Jillian Riseman about the upcoming discussion regarding the city's nearly $56 million fund balance, new looser rules for accessory dwelling units in the pipeline, the latest on the boundary question, and a reminder about early voting and local election races.

WUKY | October 30, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Minimum job requirements changing for some city positions, the boundary expansion is still on track, and what exactly is a waste digester system?

In this episode, we chat with CivicLex about some job requirements that are being lowered in city government, the latest on the boundary expansion saga, and talks about bringing in a new system that could reduce landfill waste.

WUKY | October 23, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Equity studies, income discrimination, and the latest on the boundary expansion

In this installement, we what with CivicLex's Jillian Riseman about upcoming presentations on a pair of equity studies done within city government, remind listeners about the public meeting on a proposed income discrimination ban, and check in on where the boundary expansion stands.

WUKY | October 16, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Should landlords be able to take income sources into consideration when renting? Plus the latest on the boundary expansion

In this episode, we chat with CivicLex's Jillian Riseman about moves to ban what's known as "source of income" discrimination. We'll also get the latest on the boundary expansion as a challenge is heard in court.

WUKY | October 9, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Catch up on the latest in city government during council's fall break, as CivicLex gears up for a celebration

In this installment, we chat with Jillian Riseman and Noel Osborn about what's been on the council's plate ahead of fall break, when city leaders will be back, and get a taste of what Civic Lex has planned for its 5th anniversary.

WUKY | October 2, 2023

CivicLex Chat: A boost for homelessness prevention, moving the needle on contract disparities, and short-term rentals

In this installment, we talk with CivicLex's Kit Anderson about a change that could help the city's homelessness fund keep up with the growing city budget, plus more.

WUKY | September 25, 2023

CivicLex Chat: The boundary discussion moves forward, as committees explore changes to ADU policy and diversity in contracting

In this installment, CivicLex's Jillian Riseman reviews last week's public comment on Lexington's boundary expansion, plus new meetings this week regarding Accessory Dwelling Unit rules and diversity in contracting.

WUKY | September 18, 2023

UK announces CivicLex as 2023-24 Cornerstone Community Innovation Partner

The University of Kentucky unveiled its new Cornerstone Community Innovation Partner (CIP) for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year. This year’s partner is CivicLex, who will have an ongoing presence at The Cornerstone to increase community engagement with students, staff and faculty.

University of Kentucky | August 21, 2023

When the People Decide: From news deserts to civic media

Some 2,500 newspapers have closed in the U.S since 2005, leaving entire communities without a source for local news, as well as with limited means to keep their government officials accountable. What if there was a way to fill the news desert, with an entirely new approach to informing the public?

In this episode, we discuss the relevance of civic information with Mike Rispoli of Free Press, and then uncovers how that can be put into practice with Richard Young, founder of CivicLex, a non-profit that is bridging the gap between news and news consumers in Kentucky.

When the People Decide | August 2023

CivicLex Chat: Boundary expansion meetings now underway

Work is beginning on Lexington’s Urban Service Boundary expansion. But it’s still extremely early in the process.

The group tasked with identifying land to be potentially added to Lexington’s Urban Service Boundary met for the first time last week. The 14-member panel – made up of local government staff, community stakeholders, and councilmembers – is part of an advisory committee that will piece together proposals for the Planning Commission.

WUKY | August 14, 2023

CivicLex Chat: The boundary, the budget, and bargaining, oh my!

Lexington’s Urban County Council is gearing up for an unusually busy week — with a long to-do list, including final adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the Urban Service Boundary, the budget and more.

WUKY | June 12, 2023

UK Osher Lifelong Learning Institute accepting new members

“We are so excited to offer a wonderful variety of learning opportunities this summer! Some of our new courses include 'Life, Love, and Lieder: German Poetry in Translation,' 'Women in Print with the Cleveland Museum of Art' and 'Slow Flow Yoga,'" said Joey Conrad, executive director for OLLI. "We are also excited to partner with CivicLex to offer four interactive workshops all about Lexington’s local government.”

UK Now | May 18, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Final comprehensive plan talks set for Tuesday, with urban service boundary in the mix

In this installment of our weekly CivicLex Chat, we get the low down on the last scheduled meeting on the comprehensive plan update — which includes urban service boundary guidelines going forward — along with previews of meetings on the Lextran and Parking Authority budgets, and the relaunch of the search for a new city hall.

WUKY | May 22, 2023

How A Lexington Nonprofit Is Increasing Participation In Local Government

In the face of dwindling local news coverage and diminishing civics education, CivicLex works to keep Lexington’s public not only informed on, but also engaged in, local government.

Next City | April 26, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Council poring over Mayor's budget plan and more public art projects coming soon

Kit Anderson with CivicLex fills us in on what's going on down at City Hall. There's more discussion surrounding Mayor Linda Gorton's proposed spending plan, the Urban County Council is making changes to how people sign up for public comment, and the Public Arts Commission has launched a new collaborative program to help introduce more public art projects on city-owned property.

WUKY | April 25, 2023

City budget, comprehensive plan atop Council's to-do list this week

Spring break is officially over for Lexington’s Urban County Council and it’s shaping up to be an eventful week at city hall with Mayor Linda Gorton’s budget speech later today and consideration of the 2045 Comprehensive Plan, which includes the hot-button issue of expanding the Urban Service Boundary. Kit Anderson with CivicLex joins us for a preview.

WUKY | April 18, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Takeaways from council briefings on community corrections, community paramedicine, and substance use disorder programs

Richard Young of CivicLex and WUKY's Alan Lytle discuss major issues up for discussion at City Hall including a review of the city's community corrections, paramedicine and substance use disorder programs.

WUKY | March 21, 2023

Short-term rental recap, plus Community Corrections and Paramedicine program reports in this week's CivicLex Chat

In this week's edition of CivicLex Chat Richard Young recaps what happened last week regarding the short-term rental issue and previews a very busy Tuesday on tap at City Hall with discussions on Community Corrections, Lexington's paramedicine program and other substance use disorder issues.

WUKY | March 14, 2023

An Interview with CivicLex

This week on the show, Jazmin and Robert interviewed Richard Young and Adrian Paul Bryant, the Executive Director and Communications Strategist for CivicLex, a very unique civic education group in Lexington. They talked about the organization's roots, how it operates, and it's future. CivicLex is an important part of the civic fabric in Kentucky's second largest city, and we are thrilled to bring you such a robust interview.

My Old Kentucky Podcast | February 14, 2023

Lexington reports no homicides in January for the first time in over a decade

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Last month, the City of Lexington reported zero homicides. The Lexington Police Department says the last time Lexington didn’t have a homicide in January was in 2007. CivicLex recently reported on more of the city's efforts to curb violence.

LEX18 | February 1, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Budget surplus, the return of the racial justice commission, and … Home Depot grills? We explain.

What's on the docket this week downtown? We talk with CivicLex's Adrian Bryant about the financial outlook, Lexington's portion of the recent national opioid settlement, and the return of the city's racial justice commission.

WUKY | January 30, 2023

CivicLex Chat: Are you an Airbnb renter in Lexington? There might be new regulations coming your way

Airbnbs and other short term rentals could soon come under new rules in Lexington. In this week's CivicLex Chat, we preview proposed regulations that could affect renters.

WUKY | November 28, 2022

CivicLex Chat: A look at Lexington's incoming council, diversity, and the urban service boundary

We are starting a new series where we will be checking in with CivicLex on a weekly basis to catch you up on what’s going on downtown in city government. Hear the full interview with Adrian Bryant at CivicLex above.

WUKY | November 14, 2022

Election day is this Tuesday. Here's what to know before you go to the polls

Tomorrow is the big day across the country. Here in Lexington thousands of registered voters will make their way to the polls. Megan Gulla, director of programs for the non-partisan CivicLex and LexVote.com is back with one more installment of Know Before You Go.

WUKY | November 7, 2022

New board game pays tribute to Lexington city workers

A brand new board game launched Sunday in Lexington all thanks to CivicLex. It’s called “The Living City” and creators say the goal is to highlight the hard work that Lexington’s Environmental Quality and Public Works Department workers do daily.

WTVQ | November 6, 2022

Widening Political Participation in Lexington, Kentucky

In this series, we share stories of co-governance in practice. For this interview, New America’s Hollie Russon Gilman and Lizbeth Lucero spoke with Richard Young, the executive director of CivicLex, an organization in Lexington, Kentucky that builds civic health through education, civic transformation, and relationship building.

The Forge | October 25, 2022

Info on all city and county contests, where and how to vote, just one click or tap away

Election day is drawing near. In fact, this Wednesday is the first opportunity to cast an absentee ballot, provided you have an acceptable reason to do that. There's no better time to study up on the candidates in city and county races. Did you know there’s a one stop website for this kind of voter and candidate information? CivicLex has once again compiled all of the data for you, nice and convenient, online. CivicLex director of programs Megan Gulla joins us to talk about lex.vote.

WUKY | October 24, 2022

Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship Returns to Lexington, Kentucky

In 2019, the Commission on the Practice of Democratic Citizenship conducted 6 listening sessions in Lexington, Kentucky that helped shape the Our Common Purpose report.

Our Common Purpose | October 21, 2022

Unique Lexington council forum gives locals a chance to hobnob with the hopefuls

Candidates for Lexington's At-Large Council seats and the Vice Mayor spot took part in a unique forum Thursday night that a more up-close-and-personal feel.

WUKY | October 20, 2022

Get to know the council at-large candidates and sample some sweet treats this week at the Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center

Join CivicLex and WUKY for our Council-at-Large Forum & Ice Cream Social! This is your opportunity to talk with your At-Large candidates about the most pressing issues in Lexington.

WUKY | October 17, 2022

These 16 news businesses will join our 2022 GNI Startups Labs on Building and Managing a Team

These 16 publishers were selected from nearly 100 applicants in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, having demonstrated a commitment to learning and acting on best practices for hiring, managing and retaining employees and contributors as they seek to grow their organizations.

Lion Publishers | October 5, 2022

Civic Connections: The 2022 Fayette County General Election

In recent years, details on how to vote, when to vote and where to vote have shifted, perhaps more quickly and dramatically than ever before. Some of those reasons were related to the pandemic and others were not; likewise, some of those shifts were temporary and others are permanent.

Smiley Pete | October 4, 2022

Seven Issues that Need Attention to Keep Local Democracy Strong

After a year of research and working alongside 12 cities—six from Europe, six from the United States—on a project appropriately named Cities Fortifying Democracy, there are at least seven areas where local democracy can be vulnerable but where timely and dedicated actions will undoubtedly strengthen it.

German Marshall Fund | September 26, 2022

CivicLex partners with national non-partisan group for 'Its Your America' community conversation/solution session on digital disinformation

If you participated in one of the On the Table events in Lexington, there’s another opportunity to give some valuable input and craft solutions in your own community coming up next week. Civic Lex and a group called Civic Genius are hosting an event titled 'It’s Your America.' The topic up for discussion: are tech companies censoring people or letting misinformation run wild? For a preview we speak with Megan Gulla, director of programs for Civic Lex and Civic Genius’s Jillian Youngblood.

WUKY | September 22, 2022

CivicLex discussed in House Select Modernization of Congress Committee

Danielle Allen, the Director of the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University described CivicLex as a critical piece of civic infrastructure working to turn the tide away from the toxic place our country is in before the House Select Committee for the Modernization of Congress. Read the Congressional Testimony here.

C-Span | July 28, 2022

Lexington, CivicLex joins Trust for Public Land plan to accelerate park equity, address needs

Lexington is joining the 10-Minute Walk® Park Equity Accelerator, an initiative of the Trust for Public Land, as an inaugural member, Mayor Linda Gorton said. The program is a partnership between the Lexington Division of Parks & Recreation and Planning, CivicLex, and community gardening organization Seedleaf.

City of Lexington | July 19, 2022

Play the game: Learn how city government really works

At CivicLex in downtown Lexington, Tony Gilmore serves as the Civic Artist in Residence. He’s created a game designed to put players in the shoes of the people that make Lexington run.

Spectrum News 1 | July 17, 2022

See the results and be inspired by work of Lexington’s Civic Artists in Residence

Lexington Herald-Leader | July 12, 2022

CivicLex works to get people involved local government issues

It was five years ago when artist and Lexington native Richard Young decided people needed to know more about what goes on in their city government. He was inspired to start CivicLex, and now, CivicLex has been recognized nationally.

Spectrum News 1 | April 12, 2022

Want to weigh in on Lexington’s future and growth boundary? Here’s how to do it

Lexington city officials and a nonprofit civic engagement group are looking for potential hosts for “On the Table,” a series of conversations that allows the public to weigh in on future growth of Kentucky’s second-largest city.

Lexington Herald Leader | March 3, 2022

Need to Know: March 2, 2022

When the Lexington Herald-Leader set out to include more community input in its coverage, it began by partnering with the civic education nonprofit CivicLex. The two launched a program called Our Voices, which led to the publication of 26 opinion essays on racial justice by community members of color.

American Press Institute | March 2, 2022

Lexington, it's time for a talk

How should Lexington evolve over the next 20 years? That's the question city leaders are inviting all residents to ponder and discuss as part of a series of community conversations known as "On the Table." This time around the city wants to expand and diversify the sessions.

WUKY | March 1, 2022

How the Lexington Herald-Leader partnered with CivicLex to elevate community voices

News organizations are always striving to meet the needs of their community. But far too often, newspapers are seen as far removed from the lives of the communities they are hoping to serve.

Demystifying the work journalists do is just one of the many challenges local news organizations face as they try to build trust among their audiences. This work is even more crucial for communities of color, who are often underrepresented in newsrooms and news articles alike.

The Lenfest Institute | March 1, 2022

CivicLex encourages students to get involved in city government

CivicLex, a Lexington-based civic involvement organization, is trying to get more citizens involved in city government. CivicLex believes that government issues start within communities and travel their way up the larger nation. To make big changes, they encourage citizens to start small.

Kentucky Kernel | February 28, 2022

CivicLex is a finalist in the Glen Nelson Center’s Next Challenge for Media & Journalism

CivicLex presents at Lenfest Institute for Journalism Summit

CivicLex and the Lexington Herald-Leader were recently invited to co-present alongside colleagues at the Associated Press and the Conversation at the Lenfest Institute for Journalism’s News Philanthropy Summit.

This conversation highlights two different approaches to collaborative fundraising. Associated Press Director of News Partnerships Lisa Gibbs and Bruce Wilson Jr., The Conversation US’s Chief Innovation and Development Officer, discuss how they’ve partnered with national and subject-focused publications to raise funds to provide the broad public with trusted and well-curated news coverage. Lexington Herald-Leader Editor/Publisher Peter Baniak and CivicLex Executive Director Richard Young share how they’ve worked together to create a partnership to facilitate the Bluegrass Civic Journalism Fund and Lab to build a more informed and engaged Central Kentucky.

Lenfest Institute for Journalism | November 2021

City Government as a Canvas: Lexington’s Civic Artists in Residence

Three Lexington artists are helping Lexington’s Urban County Government communicate with the public it serves. The Civic Artist in Residence program (CAIR), a yearlong project of CivicLex in partnership with the city and the Bluegrass Community Foundation, has selected their trio of artists. Standup comic and actress Debra F. Faulk, filmmaker Anthony Alex Gilmore, and quilter and textile artist Hannah Allen will work with three different city departments to conceive and execute artistic projects with an emphasis on problem-solving.

Under Main | July 2021

New project embeds artists in Lexington city hall

The City of Lexington is taking the phrase, “Life imitates art,” to a new level.

Three local artists are now working within city government offices, a part of Lexington’s new “Civic Artist-in-Residence,” or CAIR, program. CAIR is the brainchild of nonprofit CivicLex, the City of Lexington and the Blue Grass Community Foundation.

Lexington Herald Leader, The Associated Press, and The Rock Hill Herald | July 4, 2021

At BGCF, we support local journalism because it’s essential to healthy communities

Blue Grass Community Foundation, in partnership with the Herald-Leader, is proud to support reliable, accurate journalism. Access to trustworthy, local news and information we can trust is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. That aligns perfectly with our mission to promote healthy, engaged and equitable communities for all.

Lexington Herald Leader | July 1, 2021

Lexington Council Committee Gets Update On Civic Engagement Effort

Lexington City Council members have been updated on efforts to draw more Fayette Countians closer to their city hall. Committee members got briefed last week on CivicLex’s review of public comment opportunities.

WEKU | June 21, 2021

Artists ‘take over’ city offices, help expand services, outreach

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Three local artists are now working inside Lexington city offices to help government employees explore new ways to engage residents and develop creative new projects. “The artists are here! I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that creates for our community and our employees,” Mayor Linda Gorton said.

ABC News 36 | June 15, 2021

Civic Connections: June 2021

Knowing how to best engage with city government is difficult. Many of the processes that standardize city operations and make work effective for city employees can be opaque for residents. At CivicLex, we’re excited to partner with LFUCG on two new initiatives to examine and improve this process.

Smiley Pete Publishing | June 8, 2021

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Danielle Allen Calls for Expansion of U.S. ‘Civic Infrastructure’ At Kennedy School Panel

Allen pointed to CivicLex as an initiative that she said is strengthening local democracy. CivicLex, based in Lexington, Ky., distributes local news with a focus on “forward reporting” — reporting on local political agendas in advance — so residents can engage meaningfully in decision-making processes, per Allen.

The Harvard Crimson | 3.25.21

Is Civic Media an Antidote to a Polarized World?

The concept of ‘civic media’ was discussed in academic circles before the rancorous political and media fights of the last few years. But only in the last few years, as polarization, disinformation, and the impact of social media have become central concerns in public life, has it become more broadly considered as a possible solution.

Library of Congress | March 18, 2021

Our Common Purpose: Civic Media to Build a Better Society

Danielle Allen, winner of the Library’s 2020 Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity, hosted a series of exciting conversations at the Library to explore the nation’s civic life and ways that people from all political beliefs and social causes can build a stronger, more resilient country.

The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress | March 11, 2021

Creativity, Democracy & The Power of Process

Richard Young is the founder of CivicLex and specializes in social practice where, as he says "creativity meets democracy." In this fascinating conversation we unpack the parallels between his love for classical music and civic engagement, and the power that the creative process can have on finding our way forward as a community. "When we shift our focus from 'getting things done' to 'how we do things' we can start to change how people trust in the society in which we live." - Richard Young

“Beyond the Fourth Wall” podcast, S2:E9 | March 9, 2021

Lexington leaders eye conversion therapy ban, new comment policy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – When the Fayette County Urban County Council returns to in-person meetings later this year, it may do so with a new public comment process.

The Council agreed Tuesday to work with CivicLex to develop a new public comment process for meetings. The process will include community input, technology and other steps to refine the current system.

WTVQ | March 9, 2021

Lexington City Council Reviews Civic Engagement Plan

A Lexington organization working to increase citizen engagement in the local government made its case last week to a council committee.

WEKU | February 15, 2021

Today’s Interview: Creative Thinkers Wanted For Civic Artist In Residence Program

In Today’s Interview, Cheri Lawson talks with Megan Gulla, director of programs at the non-profit civic education organization, Civic Lex.

WEKU | February 5, 2021

Why Voting Isn't Enough. CivicLex: Richard Young, Megan Gulla

In this episode, we look at the groundbreaking work of CivicLex, a non-profit civic education and solutions journalism group based in Lexington, a Kentucky city of nearly 400,000 people. Civic Lex has three main goals: Improve access to information, Change the processes that govern how the city interacts with residents, and Democratize political power.

“How Do We Fix It?” podcast, Episode 275 | October 9, 2020

The first Trump-Biden debate was unruly. Is American civil discourse dead?

After Tuesday’s remarkable presidential debate, much attention has been focused on President Trump’s unconventional conduct. But does the lack of substantive debate and civil discourse reflect a broader phenomenon in American society? Two distinguished political scientists, Harvard University’s Danielle Allen and Pepperdine University’s Pete Peterson, join Jeffrey Brown to discuss.

PBS NewsHour | October 1, 2020

Revisiting America’s Founding Principles In The Age Coronavirus

Six years ago, Danielle Allen came on the Diane Rehm Show to discuss her book, “Our Declaration.” It’s about teaching the Declaration of Independence to adult night school students and why she thinks the the text says as much about equality as it does about independence.

Diane Rehm Show | July 3, 2020

Foreign Affairs July/August 2020 Issue Launch: Democracy, Autocracy, and the Pandemic

How will the pandemic change global politics and international order? Will the crisis mark a turning point for great-power rivalry, political institutions, or American leadership? Watch “Democracy, Autocracy, and the Pandemic,” a virtual panel discussion on the July/August 2020 issue of Foreign Affairs with Executive Editor Daniel Kurtz-Phelan and contributors Danielle Allen and Francis Fukuyama.

Foreign Affairs Magazine | June 25, 2020