CaliforniaSpeaks

CaliforniaSpeaks was a statewide nonpartisan deliberative forum on health care reform that took place on August 11, 2007. More than 2,000 Californians gathered in "town meetings" at eight locations, including Eureka, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Luis Obispo. It was organized by the nonprofit AmericaSpeaks, and was funded by The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, and the Blue Shield of California Foundation. In 2007, it was described as "one of the world's biggest ever public engagement processes" by a UK public participation charity. A 2015 article in the journal Political Communication has described it as a "natural experiment" in structured deliberation.

Organizers of the CaliforniaSpeaks worked with a survey research firm to randomly select demographically diverse participants who would be representative of their localities. During the event, participants were assigned to groups of 8 to 10 people with whom they discussed health care issues throughout the day, with the help of a skilled facilitator. Each participant reported their views through a keypad device, and filled out surveys before and after the session. The results of the forum were compiled into a report, which was then presented to the California legislature and governor, and subsequently influenced proposed legislation.