Active Program
Civic Story Lab
Where civic challenges meet creative problem-solving.
The Baltimore Civic Story Lab brings students, fellows, artists, technologists, researchers, agencies, and residents together on a shared platform where civic challenges are framed more clearly, solutions are co-designed and tested, and stories are told in ways that strengthen trust and spark collective action.
Developed in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Performance and Innovation (OPI) as part of the Government Service Corps ecosystem.
Core objectives
Objective 1
Build multidisciplinary teams that frame civic challenges with input from agencies and communities
Objective 2
Prototype tools and creative responses combining open-source technology, design, and storytelling
Objective 3
Develop policy briefs and roadmaps that translate good ideas into clear, actionable steps
Objective 4
Engage artists and media partners to surface root causes and expand public understanding
Objective 5
Train fellows and students in participatory design, civic tech, and public interest research
Five program tracks
Policy Brief Tracks
Student and fellow teams produce short, actionable research and design briefs. The Downtown RISE Policy Brief Series is the first track, addressing office conversions, graffiti and street art, nuisance crime, and sustaining the Squeegee Collaborative.
Community Design Tracks
Neighborhood-based workshops bring residents, artists, and technologists together to co-create solutions to local challenges such as illegal dumping, water billing coordination, or service request transparency.
Narrative and Storytelling Tracks
Creative partners develop multimedia stories, exhibitions, and campaigns that help explain complex civic challenges, amplify community voices, and build broader public engagement.
Prototype Tracks
Fellows work with city agencies to test early-stage tools including dashboards, service pilots, or civic media installations, allowing rapid learning and iteration.
Policy and Practice Translation
The Lab produces briefs and reports summarizing insights and recommendations from each track. Findings are shared with OPI, City Council, and partner organizations to inform ongoing practice and policy.