MAPLE (the Massachusetts Platform for Legislative Engagement - www.mapletestimony.org) is a non-profit digital platform designed to enhance civic participation by fostering connections between residents, community organizations, advocacy groups, and the legislature. As a digital public space focused on legislative testimony, MAPLE provides tools for longstanding civic institutions—such as unions, religious organizations, and neighborhood societies—to better engage in the law-making process. MAPLE seeks to reinvigorate these institutions' historical roles as sources of community knowledge and action.
This submission outlines how MAPLE plans to empower civic actors and institutions, and how government collaborations can bolster these dynamics. MAPLE standardizes and demystifies the process of submitting testimony, making it easier for communities to contribute to state-level decision-making and for legislators to discern public input on critical issues.
At its core, MAPLE is designed to strengthen representative self-governance by encouraging collective problem-solving and prolonging attention to key local matters. The platform’s ability to coordinate efforts among local associations, traditional advocacy organizations, and state actors exemplifies how digital technology can enhance civic responsibility and shared governance.
By restoring vital connections between civic society and state processes, MAPLE offers a pathway for more sustainable and meaningful governance. This presentation will illustrate how the platform helps local stakeholders find common ground and address issues within their communities.
