COPS/Metro is a University of Public Life where everyday people, from different faiths and backgrounds, learn the habits and practices to participate in democracy, and build shared power to address the issues that matter to them. 

This process is rooted in our member institutions, where a "core team" of leaders conducts 1-1 relational meetings and small group house meetings.

Through these conversations, leaders begin to understand and effectively tell their stories and learn to elicit stories from others. These stories reveal people's motivations for engaging in public life, and surface issues people want to act on.

To find a way to act on these issues, leaders conduct research actions: meetings to identify potential solutions and decision-makers who can make them happen. Leaders negotiate with decision-makers to gain commitments on specific solutions.

In public actions, leaders engage elected officials and decision-makers in front of their institutions, and often press, to gain a public commitment, and then hold them accountable for following through.

Reflection is essential. After every relational meeting, house meeting, research action, and public action, leaders reflect on what they learned and evaluate their work.

Throughout this process, an organizer trains and reflects with leaders.