CivicCon Janesville
A Community Conversation Series
CivicCon—short for civic conversation—is a community-focused speaker series created to bring residents, businesses and civic leaders together around the ideas shaping Janesville’s future.
Hosted by Forward Janesville, CivicCon provides a space to learn from national experts, explore complex topics, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the opportunities and challenges facing our community.
Why CivicCon?
At Forward Janesville, we believe business development is community development. The strength of our economy is directly tied to the strength of our community—and that requires thoughtful planning, informed decision-making and engaged citizens.
Many of the issues impacting Janesville’s future—like housing, zoning, workforce and economic growth—don’t have simple solutions. CivicCon was created to:
- Bring people together for open, constructive dialogue
- Provide access to expert insights and best practices from across the country
- Build shared understanding around complex community issues
- Encourage civic engagement in decisions that shape Janesville’s future
While many Forward Janesville events are member-focused, CivicCon is intentionally free and open to the public to ensure broad community participation.
Learn more about "What Is CivicCon" on our blog
Next Event: The Affordable City
A Presentation by Shane Phillips
Thursday, May 7 | 5-7 p.m.
Janesville Performing Arts Center
CivicCon continues with a deeper dive into one of Janesville’s most pressing challenges: housing.
Housing was identified as a top barrier to growth in Forward Janesville’s 2025 Business Retention & Expansion survey and is a key priority in the City of Janesville’s strategic plan. As costs rise and availability remains limited, the need for solutions has never been more urgent.
Join Shane Phillips, author of The Affordable City and housing policy expert from UCLA’s Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, as he explores the key drivers of housing affordability, including:
- Supply: Increasing housing availability and addressing misconceptions
- Stability: Preserving housing and supporting renters
- Subsidy: The role of public investment and policy
This event is ideal for community leaders, problem-solvers and anyone interested in shaping the future of housing in Janesville.
Please note: While this event is free and open to the public, advance registration is required.
Our First CivicCon Event
Making Cities: Design Matters
January 2026 | Janesville Performing Arts Center
Forward Janesville launched CivicCon with a conversation about the role of design, planning and collaboration in shaping thriving communities.
Featuring nationally recognized urban designers Victor Dover and Joe Kohl, the event welcomed nearly 300 attendees and explored how thoughtful design influences:
- Walkability and neighborhood connectivity
- Housing diversity and land use
- Long-term economic and community vitality
The discussion helped establish a shared language around how cities grow—and set the stage for deeper conversations to come.
Be Part of the Conversation
CivicCon is more than a speaker series, it’s an opportunity for our community to come together, ask questions, share perspectives and explore solutions.
There is no single answer to the challenges we face. But through learning, dialogue, and collaboration, we can build a stronger, more vibrant Janesville.
We hope you’ll join us.
Thank You to Our CivicCon Sponsors
CivicCon is made possible through the generous support of community partners who believe in the power of civic dialogue and informed decision-making.
Thank you to our sponsors:
- Quint & Rishy Studer
- Ryan, Inc.
- Tobin & Oakleigh Ryan
- The Janesville Gazette
Their support helps bring important conversations to our community and ensures these events remain free and accessible to all.
Stay Connected
Want to stay informed about future CivicCon events?
- Follow Forward Janesville on social media
- Subscribe to our newsletter (an exclusive benefit to Forward Janesville members)
- Check back here for updates and new event announcements