About Kitchen Democracy

Our mission is to broaden participation in democracy. We are a 501c(3) non-profit corporation.

Contact us at info@KitchenDemocracy.org or at the address below.

Why Simona and Robert started Kitchen Democracy

We believe we are responsible citizens. We work hard, pay our taxes and try to be considerate of other people and of the environment. We vote in each election after carefully studying the candidates and the issues.

But there is one thing we almost never do. Even though we have strong opinions about local issues, we almost never go to City Hall meetings. Feeling guilty about that, we asked ourselves why.

We realized that at the end of the day, we are too tired for a meeting which lasts until late at night. And it is exhausting to sit through a meeting while a few people dominate and say unkind things about a lot of people.

So we started Kitchen Democracy. We know there are many people who would like to contribute to local issues; people with great ideas and a willingness to listen to other points of view. We believe those are the people who should be participating in community meetings.

If you want to share your ideas with your community, and are also willing to listen to other viewpoints, then Kitchen Democracy is your website. We will do our best to make Kitchen Democracy a civil place for you to participate in your community - on your own schedule in your own home. With your help, we can make it happen.

Newspaper articles about Kitchen Democracy

• July 20, 2007
  Berkeley Daily Planet
  Commentary: A Thousand Channels for Participation and Inclusion
• July 11, 2007
  East Bay Express
  Click Here for Democracy
• February 9, 2007
  San Francisco Chronicle
  Fatburger a hard sell in Grand Lake
• July 31, 2006
  The Daily Californian
  Democracy Brewing
• June 20, 2006
  East Bay Daily News
  Veggie garden victory
• June 13, 2006
  Berkeley Daily Planet
  Kitchen Democracy Cooks Up Civic Participation

Volunteers

Kitchen Democracy is run by a team of professionals who believe in our mission and are volunteering their time to help Kitchen Democracy strengthen democracy. We can always use more volunteers. Please contact us if you would like to help in any of these roles:

Board Members

• Michael Alvarez Cohen (Strategic Advisor)
• Camille Gerstel (Fund Raising)
• Ginny Hanger (Government Liaison)
• Robert Vogel (Co-Founder)

Officers

• Simona Carini (Secretary and Treasurer)
• Robert Vogel (President)

Graphic Design

• Gabe Friedman

Technical Advisors

• Neil Berkman
• Marco Di Costanzo
• Gina Hagg
• Will Sobel

(Our website is written in Ruby on Rails)

Help Us Strengthen Democracy

Our mission is to broaden participation in democracy. We are a 501c(3) non-profit corporation.

Since March 2006, Kitchen Democracy has been a civil place for you and other citizens to participate in local government - on your own schedule and in your own home.

Many citizens have urged us to keep going. With your help, we will continue to help people participate in democracy.

Your tax-deductible gift today helps keep us going. Please click this button

or make a check out to Kitchen Democracy and send it to the address below.

Thank you.

Robert and Simona
Kitchen Democracy

Contact Us

Email us at

info@KitchenDemocracy.org

or write us at:

Kitchen Democracy
2930 Domingo Ave. #110
Berkeley CA 94705

Non-computer users

If you know of someone who would like to participate in your community but does not use a computer, please contact us.

Our Plans

We are learning how to promote healthy democracy by maximizing citizen involvement in local issues.

As we gain expertise, we plan to deliver this public service to as many people as possible.

If you want to suggest improvements, tell us of similar initiatives, or just give us some encouragement, please contact us.

Thank you for your support.

Robert Vogel and Simona Carini
Kitchen Democracy