The Right Question Institute (RQI) is a nonprofit educational organization offering a simple, powerful strategy that builds people’s skills to ask better questions, participate in decisions that affect them, advocate for themselves, and partner with service-providers. RQI’s innovative methods are delivered through educational institutions and organizations, health care organizations, social service organizations, community-based organizations, and public agencies all over the country and beyond.
RQI’s methods tap into the potential of tens of millions of people to become more effective advocates for themselves, and to become active citizens participating on all levels of our democratic society. RQI’s materials, trainings, web-based resources, and consulting services provide a remarkably cost-effective way for organizations and public agencies to enhance and strengthen their ongoing services and programs for people in their communities.
Our Mission
RQI aims to make democracy work better by teaching a strategy that allows anyone, no matter their educational, income, or literacy level, to learn to ask better questions and participate more effectively in decisions that affect them.
Our Vision
A vibrant democracy in which all citizens–even those farthest from power–can think for themselves and effectively advocate for themselves, their families, and their communities. Individual citizens confidently participating in their common and ordinary encounters with public agencies and services will produce examples of what we call “Microdemocracy,” a new starting point for democratic action. Microdemocracy is the cornerstone of a strong foundation for a more just society.