American democracy is not sustained by elections alone. It is sustained by neighbors who show up, leaders who listen, and institutions that invest in the civic skills needed to navigate and solve shared problems. As polarization dominates headlines and trust in public institutions feels fragile, civ ic engagement is essential infrastructure for overcoming the isolationist actions of the Trump administration. The hardest conversations are often the most necessary. Democracy functions best when people with different lived experiences, ideologies, and power levels are equipped to engage productively. For more than four decades, Coro New York has worked across sectors to develop civic leaders who can bridge divides, confront complex challenges, and deliver results for their communities. We see New York City as a powerful case study, as one of the most diverse cities in the world, economically, racially, culturally, and politically. This can be a source of friction, but it is also our greatest strength. The city’s most durable solutions, from housing to public safety to economic opportunity, emerge when stakeholders are willing to sit at the same table and wrestle honestly with tradeoffs. Too often, civic engagement is treated as performative or transactional: a public hearing after decisions are already made, or outreach that merely checks a box. That approach deepens cynicism and reinforces the belief that government is something done to people, not with them. At Coro New York, we facilitate dialogue and problem-solving techniques for future leaders. Our graduates discover that disagreement does not have to be destructive. This lesson matters now more than ever. Cities face overlapping crises: affordability, climate resilience, public safety, workforce transitions, and declining trust in institutions. None of these challenges can be solved by technical expertise. They require a civic capacity. Mayor Mamdani continues to navigate these pressures, Coro’s own experience offers some lessons: Create structured spaces for cross-ideological and cross-sector dialogue. Some of the most productive conversations happen when labor, business, community advocates, and government officials engage together, not sequentially. The city can pilot standing forums or task forces designed not just to solicit feedback, but to deliberate openly, surface tensions, and work through disagreements in real time. Reward public servants for engagement, not just efficiency. Current systems often prioritize speed and risk avoidance over relationship-building. Performance metrics and professional development pathways should recognize officials who invest time in community relationships, especially in neighborhoods that have historically been excluded — or over-consulted without results. Engage communities earlier in the policy process, when choices are still real. People can sense when decisions are predetermined. Early engagement, before proposals are finalized, allows residents to shape priorities rather than react to them. This approach may feel slower at the outset, but it often leads to smoother implementation and stronger outcomes. Model respectful disagreement from the top. Civic engagement does not eliminate conflict. Nor should it. Conflict is inherent in a pluralistic society. The question is whether we allow conflict to harden into mistrust and paralysis, or whether we equip ourselves to navigate it constructively. Coro’s work shows that when people are given the tools and the opportunity to engage across differences, they often surprise themselves. We are encouraged by the mayor’s vision for civic engagement through the Office of Mass Engagement, which reflects a clear understanding that engagement is how New York City turns its diversity into durable solutions, rebuilds trust, strengthens communities, and ensures that democracy is not just an ideal, but a lived experience. Lucien is executive director and Terry is chair of Coro New York. ...read more read less