Conor White Sullivan, an anthropology major at the University of Massachusetts, in 2008 founded Localocracy, with a belief that technology can change democracy. The website is an online town forum that encourages users to sign on, speak up and be counted. The tool helps citizens and elected officials identify and solve local issues by providing a platform that fosters healthy civic dialogue. Localocracy is designed to spark ongoing conversations through building a real connection between citizens, governments and journalists, in turn, creating a user interface for politics and civic life. Localocracy’s prototype is live in six communities in Massachusetts, and continues to expand.