Go Vocal (formerly CitizenLab)

Go Vocal is a digital platform for community engagement and participation, aimed at facilitating project management and analysis of community input.

Go Vocal

Go Vocal (formerly CitizenLab) | 15,968 followers on LinkedIn. A digital engagement platform to make public decision-making more inclusive, participatory, and responsive.  | Go Vocal is a certified B Corp on a mission to make public decision-making more inclusive, participatory, and responsive. We have worked with over 500 governments around the world, empowering public servants to cultivate a true culture of engagement with our comprehensive engagement platform and strategic guidance. We help amplify the voices of community members, streamline the engagement process, and unlock deeper insights for more informed decision-making.

Expert in digital citizen- and member engagement

Søren Kielgast

Connector | Business Leadership Advisor | Builder of High Performing Teams

Emma Ward

Jan Verbeke

People & Culture Manager

Joost Vandenbroele

The time has come for the next chapter: CitizenLab is now Go Vocal! 📣🎉 We have rebranded to better reflect our commitment to empowering communities and fostering meaningful participation. While our name and image have changed, we remain the same team, led by the original founders. Since our inception, we have partnered with over 500 local governments and organizations of all sizes to make local democracy more inclusive and have provided over 1,000,000 community members with a platform to actively participate in shaping their communities. We are excited to continue building stronger communities together. Want to learn more about our rebranding story? Visit our website: https://www.govocal.com/ #GoVocal #CommunityEngagement #GovTech #CitizenLab

People are understandably wary of AI – so how can we increase openness and awareness of artificial intelligence in government? 🤔 Øyvind S. Tanum , Head of Smart City for Trondheim kommune in Norway, says digital tools have increased the chance of a good engagement experience in Trondheim. Leading with the benefits of new technologies – while being sensitive to residents’ concerns – is crucial to bringing your community on board and ensuring everyone gets a say. Øyvind shares how his city is doing that on our podcast, Public Square. Link in the comments 🎧 #GoVocal #CommunityEngagement #GovTech #PublicSquare #AI #CivicTech

What is participatory democracy? Here are 5 inspiring real-world examples from around the globe 🌎 In essence, participatory democracy makes government more responsive to the needs of community members and decisions more equitable 🙌 Read more via the link in the comments. #GoVocal #CommunityEngagement #GovTech #Participation

"Hello, it's the council calling!" ☎️ Community engagement doesn't always need all the bells and whistles. These 4 cities meet residents where they’re at, using low- and no-tech engagement tools like WhatsApp, SMS, in-person visits, and the good old telephone 🤙 📱 Viña del Mar, Chile: Used WhatsApp to reach residents who stay connected to friends and family in Whatsapp groups. Creating sharable graphics is a great way to spread the word about important initiatives in your community. 🧑🧑🧒 Copenhagen, Denmark: The city overcame age restrictions for its resident proposals drive by running participation workshops for teenagers, then submitting proposals on the teens’ behalves. 🏡 New York City: The Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit makes sure to show up on residents’ doorsteps to have a friendly chat with residents they may not reach otherwise. ☎️ Benicia, California: When the city ran an engagement drive on an industrial safety ordinance, a personal phone number was included on all communications to ensure residents including the elderly would have a comfortable way to make their voice heard. All of these communities use Go Vocal for community engagement that streamlines a broad range of engagement methods, from online to offline, all in one place. More on how these cities used low-tech engagement, via the link in the comments #GoVocal #CommunityEngagement #Inclusion

Join us in Brussels on Wednesday 20 November for a fireside chat: From Vision to Impact: Lessons from Our GovTech Journey 🚀 This event is a unique opportunity to learn from GovTech pioneers who have successfully navigated the challenges and triumphs of this industry. Join us at Go Vocal (formerly CitizenLab) and discover firsthand how to transform your vision into meaningful impact. Hear stories, insights, and actionable advice from Wietse Van Ransbeeck , Aline Muylaert (Go Vocal founders), and Anthony Jamison ( CivStart founder) as they share their journey in GovTech. Whether you're just starting out or well-versed in the field, this event promises to inspire, inform, and connect you with others passionate about innovation in government technology, including 11 American GovTech founders. Don’t miss this chance to network with like-minded professionals – and make sure you bring your appetite, ready to enjoy the fresh fingerfood, wraps, salads and drinks on hand from upmarket caterers OSKO. We look forward to seeing you there! Sign up via the link in the comments 👇

Magdeburg, Elbestadt und Hauptstadt Sachsen-Anhalts mit knapp 240.000 Einwohner*innen ist jetzt gut ein Jahr dabei in Sachen digitaler Bürger*innenbeteiligung. Bei der Beteiligung geht es konkret um das Stadtplanungsthema „Zentraler Platz/Elbufer“. Damit ist der Prämonstratenserberg gemeint - ein Viertel in der Altstadt. In diesem Prozess sollen die Bürger*innen mit verschiedenen interaktiven Partizipationsmethoden eingebunden werden. Lesen Sie die Fallstudie über den unten stehenden Link.

De start van de nieuwe legislatuur loert om de hoek. Het is voor ambtenaren én (nieuwe) mandatarissen nu hét moment om na te denken over hoe het lokale participatiebeleid verder vorm moet gegeven worden. Hoplr - Community engagement platform , Go Vocal (formerly CitizenLab) en MONDEA zorgen graag voor de nodige inspiratie met een heus participatiecongres op 30 januari 2025! 🎪 👤 Voor wie? 👉🏻 Burgemeesters, schepenen en ambtenaren bij Vlaamse lokale besturen 👉🏻 Organisaties die de participatie van burgers willen versterken 📍Waar? Eventlocatie TRACK, in het station Brussel-Noord (Vooruitgangstraat 78, 1030 Brussel). Een dynamische plek, weg van de traditionele overheidsgebouwen, die creativiteit en innovatie stimuleert. 🎟️Prijs? Volledig gratis! Op het programma: relevante academische inzichten, interactieve sessies over resultaatgerichte en meteen toepasbare methodieken en krachtige praktijkvoorbeelden. Het volledige programma vind je op onze inschrijfpagina: https://lnkd.in/eezPnTF6 Schrijf je in vóór 21 januari en verzeker je van een plek, want deze kans om je participatiebeleid een vliegende start te geven wil je niet missen. Aline Muylaert Anouk De Meulemeester (she/her) Sören Fillet Koen Gremmelprez Jennick Scheerlinck Jonas De Meulenaere Peter De Smedt Wouter De Beuf Joris Gallens Nele Moortgat Claudia Haenen Dries Herseele Karolien Dezeure IDEA Consult Ine Plovie

Democracy isn’t something that only happens at the ballot box 🗳️ Here’s how to run an engaging resident Proposals campaign, with lessons from Copenhagen: ✅ Use Proposals to train your community’s democratic muscles – get residents thinking about what they have to contribute ✅ Chart a clear path from proposal to law – Effective communication keeps residents engaged long-term ✅ Invest in inclusion measures to help moderate the vocal minority – Support underheard residents like school students and migrants to submit their own Proposals ✅ Qualify Proposals to ensure broad community support – e.g. add criteria like vote thresholds to ensure a Proposal has legs Keen to learn more about how Proposals make participation part of civic life? Listen to our podcast episode on Copenhagen’s successful Proposals campaign – link in the comments 🎧 #GoVocal #CitizenProposals #CommunityEngagement

Our People & Operations team take such good care of everyone else at Go Vocal, we thought it was time they did something nice for themselves. What did they choose? Axe throwing! 🪓 The team spent a cosy day together in Antwerp, reconnecting face-to-face – especially important for our remote-first team. Ellen Batens Joost Vandenbroele Jordan Houngbo Jeroen Van Ransbeeck #GoVocal #Teambuilding #CompanyCulture

Considering a community engagement platform? 🤔 Whether you're exploring options or re-evaluating your current solution, our guide walks you through: - Understanding your engagement needs - Building internal stakeholder buy-in - Shopping around the market - Technical and legal vendor approval Take a peek at the guide below, and download the full version for free via the link in comments. #GoVocal #CommunityEngagement

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