In North Macedonia, rapid urban expansion is reshaping daily life. Cities are growing faster than housing, transportation, and public services can keep up, leaving communities to navigate new pressures and uncertainties. Klimentina Gjorgjioska, a 2025 Community Solutions Program (CSP) alum, is working to bridge the gap between citizens and their government through a community-driven initiative that is transforming civic engagement in her hometown.

Klimentina saw an opportunity to apply some of lessons she learned during the Community Solutions U.S.-based practicum. She knew that community-based solutions succeed only when citizens are genuinely involved, educated, heard, and supported to participate without barriers. While she was in the U.S., She recognized that strong policies grow from true partnerships between residents and local government, where decisionmakers are accessible and engagement is meaningful. These insights inspired her to design a project that would bring together municipal leaders, nonprofit organizations, and citizens for open dialogue and collaboration to reimagine how local government could better serve its people.

From fellowship to fieldwork: A U.S.-North Macedonia collaboration

Klimentina's journey began in New Orleans, where she spent her CSP practicum working alongside Alison Poort, Chief of Staff to City Council member Lesli Harris, on community development initiatives including affordable housing, transportation, and neighborhood planning issues that mirrored the needs of her hometown.

Her work in New Orleans was formally recognized by the New Orleans City Council, which issued a proclamation honoring Klimentina's contributions to District B.  Klimentina's post-fellowship project in Prilep built upon her experiences in New Orleans, adapting approaches to fit local needs while maintaining a focus on innovative community-driven solutions.

Her project is supported by the CCI travel grant, which enables U.S. host organizations to engage directly with fellows in their home communities. By traveling to North Macedonia, Klimentina's U.S. partners gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities on the ground, strengthening both the local initiative and the cross-cultural collaboration behind it.

A multi-faceted approach to community engagement

Klimentina's project was both practical and participatory, bringing together the mayor, six city council members, and 12 nonprofit leaders for a series of workshops that sparked meaningful dialogue. During these sessions, participants openly reflected on challenges facing their community and explored collective solutions. The discussions highlighted the value of government efficiency, building public trust, and optimizing public services and institutional performance.

This constructive dialogue encouraged local leaders to find common ground, assess current practices, and collaborate to outline specific steps ensuring government responds to the needs of its people. The workshops boosted public awareness of citizen participation and prompted candidates to engage more directly with residents. National media coverage amplified calls for reforms, especially reducing Prilep's oversized council and requiring members to represent neighborhoods and meet citizens regularly, positioning these ideas for future policy action.

Elevating public dialogue through media and literature

Beyond the workshops, Klimentina launched a podcast series featuring voices from both Prilep and New Orleans, introducing citizens to effective governance models and distinguishing political interests from party interests. The podcast expanded public dialogue, prompting residents to discuss representation, accountability, and the need for more responsive, community-centered local leadership.

She also met with representatives from the U.S. Embassy, underscoring the value of bilateral cooperation in strengthening local development. Their engagement validated her project's focus on municipal governance, boosted community confidence, and elevated the credibility and visibility of the initiative.

A key milestone was the release of her book, From Policy to Dialogue: Designing Cities that Listen and Respond. Drawing from 15 interviews with New Orleans stakeholders, the book offers practical insights for elected officials and public servants, serving as a resource for designing policies that are effective, comprehensive, and responsive to community needs. The launch event drew over 100 attendees, signaling strong public interest in local innovation.

Why it mattered

Klimentina's initiative delivered measurable outcomes that strengthened the relationship between citizens and their local government. Through targeted workshops and collaborative activities, citizen attendance at council meetings doubled, and national media coverage reached an estimated 500,000 viewers across North Macedonia. The project facilitated new partnerships between nonprofit organizations and municipal leaders, creating a more coordinated approach to addressing community needs.

Looking ahead, Klimentina aims to deepen her work in local governance, citizen engagement, and participatory policymaking, developing models that enhance transparency, accountability, and collaboration between municipalities and communities.