Public Servants is seeking city managers, county managers, town managers, chief administrative officers, and other local government leaders to participate in a national research effort exploring leadership experiences in local government.

Design research in government and nonprofits isn’t just about collecting data—it’s about showing care. By grounding our work in human-centered, trauma-informed, and community-engaged approaches, we can uncover deeper truths, minimize harm, and generate insights that drive meaningful change. This is research with a heart: rigorous, respectful, and designed for public good.

Lived experience isn’t anecdotal, it’s essential. Learn how civic teams can honor it as a form of expertise and design more accountable public systems.