Making local government more accessible | News

Like many people, I often find myself more absorbed by national political dramas than the goings-on at my local city council or school board. Yet, the decisions made closest to home – about schools, roads, safety and neighborhoods – typically impact our daily lives far more directly.

A few years ago, as one chapter of my career closed, I was thinking about what I’d do next. I wanted to focus on a problem I cared about deeply. One such problem became apparent when I was doing get-out-the-vote work for a local election. I heard from many people that they knew a lot about national politics but very little about their local governments. Some felt guilty and said they might not vote because they felt uninformed and unsure. Like many local elections, the turnout was alarmingly low.

Then, while watching a city council meeting in Durham, North Carolina, where I live, I saw some compelling moments unfold. An idea sparked: What if people could easily watch just the key parts of these long meetings? Would that help them get the knowledge they need to consistently participate in their local government?

That seed grew into See Gov, the nonprofit I founded. We built a platform that, with some AI assistance, helps journalists and residents create video highlights of local government meetings. The platform transcribes long meetings, breaks them down into short moments, and summarizes each of those moments. But the tech is just part of the story. The crucial next step involves humans – journalists or community volunteers – who review these moment-by-moment summaries. Using their local knowledge, they select the most important ones, clip them down to focus on key points and add community context. The platform then assembles their work into a final video.

Although publications like Illinois Times report on many meetings, including vital context and analysis, there’s something special that happens with video. Seeing officials in action – hearing their tone, observing body language – adds another layer of understanding. It humanizes them, paving the way for more thoughtful community conversations, even amid disagreement. Plus, video aligns with how many people consume information today, offering a different pathway to engagement alongside traditional articles.

See Gov wouldn’t have been possible without Springfield native Jeff Schneider’s assistance. Jeff and I have a professional relationship spanning two decades. I worked for him three separate times, beginning when we were both in Austin, Texas. Our shared passion for innovative technology has been a constant throughout our relationship. He’s a serial entrepreneur and Springfield success story whose work put him in a position to provide the financial support and guidance needed to get See Gov off the ground.

Jeff’s commitment to Springfield also led us to make the city one of our first areas to pilot See Gov. As our first volunteer, he regularly created highlights of city council meetings for months while suggesting ways to improve the system.

While 2024 was a big year for building and testing See Gov, this year has been about growing its impact. That’s why we’re so excited about the partnership we’ve built with IT. When they saw a See Gov highlight reel in January, the team recognized its potential not to replace their work, but to enhance it. See Gov offers readers a new way to engage, providing video context that complements stories or includes key moments from meetings that didn’t make it into an article.

We started by sharing See Gov videos on IT’s website, making them easy to find and watch. Soon, Illinois Times will use See Gov to take on more of the highlight creation work. Their journalistic expertise will improve the quality of the videos, while our platform will help them do that work efficiently. It’s a win for See Gov’s mission to expand participation in democracy, a win for IT as it enhances its coverage, and most importantly, a win for the Springfield community.

For me, it’s been fascinating to watch highlights of Springfield government meetings. Compared to Durham, Springfield has a broader political landscape that yields discussions reflecting a wide range of perspectives. The highlights invariably reveal something new, even surprising.

The vision for See Gov is national. We’re partnering with more news outlets and enabling advocacy groups and committed residents to engage more people in the democratic process. Beyond growing into new areas, we want to expand what See Gov does: helping residents not just find out what happened, but become aware of what’s coming up – a nearby zoning change, a budget vote – with links to relevant discussions, empowering timely participation.

See Gov is a mission-driven nonprofit. We’re grateful for supporters who believe in strengthening democracy, starting with local government. As we grow, we seek partners who share this vision.

You can make a difference now without donating. Simply visit Illinois Times‘ website and check out the latest city council or school board videos. See what your elected officials are discussing. If a topic – economic growth, public safety, school funding – grabs you, share the moment. Read IT’s coverage for deeper context. Reach out to your alderperson or board member. Attend a meeting. Your voice matters in local affairs. I hope See Gov, and our partnership with IT, will give you and others in Springfield the knowledge needed to participate confidently and consistently in your local government and improve your community.

Alex Rosen is the executive director of See Gov, where he combines his passion for democracy with decades of experience building technology businesses. He studied political science in college and has been involved in political engagement since working on his mother’s campaigns as a child. When not developing See Gov’s platform and partnerships, Alex can be found walking long distances or discovering new bands at small music venues in his home of Durham, North Carolina.