Chicago has seen increased calls for collaborative governance (co-governance) from community  leaders, elected officials, and public servants alike. Its biggest champion has been Mayor  Brandon Johnson's administration.

Since one of the key strategies in OERJ’s and CUE’s work to advance equity focuses on shifting power to those most impacted, the two offices used their convening power to host an Exploring Co-governance in Chicago and Beyond convening in the fall of 2023. This convening brought Chicagoans in government and community together to examine co-governance models. Participants heard from leaders from Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle and learned from their approaches to co-governance at the local level. Following this convening, participants advocated for continued exploration of what co-governance should look like in Chicago.

Simultaneously, broader conversations about co-governance began to reveal that while widely supported, the concept of co-governance varies in interpretation. Some view it as an avenue for increased democratic participation, while others see it as a means for shared decision-making power between the government and the community. The City recognizes the need for a unified operational definition to guide its implementation if it is to develop more co-governance models that promote racial equity.

OERJ and CUE have launched the city’s first Co-governance Steering committee to lead these efforts.

The Committee members are tasked with attending bi-monthly planning meetings, convening community conversations with priority populations who have been historically excluded from government-level decision-making, connecting with existing initiatives aligned with co-governance principles and values, and learning from other cities and municipalities that have established co-governance models. Additionally, the Committee will collectively draft the definition, values, and principles of co-governance for Chicago, identify opportunities to apply this governance model in the city, and attend a final convening early next year.

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