How can peer exchanges help expand policy possibilities?
When asked where they draw on new ideas for their work, most policymakers turn to examples from other places. But what happens when we need more than a case study to develop solutions for local policy? How do we combine field knowledge with local community expertise, especially in rapidly changing environments?
In Policy Design Labs, we bring small teams of policymakers and community leaders into an accelerated scenario-planning session to find new solutions, together. We quickly generate multiple solutions in a rapid context – and then ask the most crucial question: what has to be true for the solution to work?
By generating and examining possibilities, we nail down the parameters necessary for success – in both policy and practice.
Mayors' Convening in Memphis, February 2025
In Memphis, we used a Policy Design Lab format for a 3-day national convening for teams from 16 cities. Bringing together Mayors' office staff and community organizations from each city, this process supported teams in designing policy solutions at the intersection of climate action and racial wealth equity.
We design together, but rooted in sharing expertise.
That's why our first session of this Lab began with Policy Roundtables (pictured above), allowing city teams to explore multiple emerging policy levers to address their city's unique challenges. After exploring case studies with experts at each table, teams were then supported through a design process to refine their challenge, work across regions to identify transferable approaches, and build out an action plan they would then present to the full group. In that last round, feedback from their full set of peers helped identify resources and networks to accelerate progress.
Issue identification, policy research, and expert curation were led by Niketa Brar. Facilitation design and team management for this event were co-led by Niketa Brar and Lauren Burdette, produced through PolicyLink. Editing of written assets was provided by Dacrie Graves and visual design by Erin Stevanus.
Policy Pathways Gallery Walk
These visuals were mounted on large boards as part of a Gallery Walk, where teams explored multiple policy futures for their community. After seeing these pathways, teams worked in a session to design their own roadmap to the future.
Policy Roundtables Booklet
This booklet was used as a resource guide to support a morning session, where local teams sat in speed rounds to hear case studies from experts in multiple fields, as they investigated multiple strategies for their local challenges. Later, they used this toolkit to begin designing their own local strategies and roadmap.
Ready to build a policy design lab for your work? Reach out.
