The day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, civic leaders began to organize four coalitions that aimed to give ordinary citizens a chance to meet, to heal, and to be heard in rebuilding decisions. This book tells the inside story of the civic renewal movement they founded. "In Democracy Deferred, David W. Woods relates a story of civic engagement from his personal perspective as a participant observer. ? This book ? raise the important strategic question about how citizens can influence decision making in representative democracy. ? most appropriate for graduate students in urban planning who are focused on a career in civic engagement as well as those studying urban sociology." (Lynne B. Sagalyn, Journal of Planning Education and Research, Vol.38 (1), March, 2018)