Town Halls
In this section, you’ll learn how to attend and host a town hall to influence local officials. This section also includes a Breathing Room “How to Host a Town Hall” cheatsheet.
HOW TOWN HALLS WORK
A town hall is a meeting hosted by public officials (or local residents) designed to facilitate dialogue about key issues and gather public sentiment. You typically see televised Town Halls during presidential elections.
They are an effective tool for community members to get engaged in the process of local policy while learning about the views and values of your elected officials. For example, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf hosts town halls to hear public opinion about racial disparities and police reform. These sessions could lead to new regulations.
They’re also a great vehicle for driving commitment and accountability in an informal environment. A recent example: In Minneapolis, the African American Leadership Forum hosts a virtual town hall series to discuss defunding and dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department. A town hall can be held in several formats, from Facebook and Zoom meetings to phone calls and traditional in-person gatherings.
HOW TO GET STARTED
1. Here's how to attend a town hall:
- Find out your city’s town hall schedule on their website (or by calling them).
- Ask clear and concise questions and feel comfortable being assertive if your officials are being indirect or avoidant. (Remember this is an appropriate venue to hold them publicly accountable to the commitments they’ve made).
- As a supplement follow local organizations and activists for appropriate talking points on a specific issue.
- After the town hall, follow up via phone, email, or live channels to reinforce your perspective.
2. Here's how to host a town hall
Interested in hosting a town hall to ensure police brutality becomes a priority for your elected officials? We’ve got you covered with our Breathing Room “How to Host a Townhall" guide.
What’s the time commitment?
Attending a town hall can be a minimal time commitment. Hosting a town hall can be a moderate to high time investment depending on your level of experience.
