Cameron Hickey, National Conference on Citizenship, Moderator

Cameron Hickey is the CEO of the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) where he focuses on strengthening civic engagement by using data and digital tools to improve transparency and empower citizens in democratic processes. Hickey oversees the NCoC’s work on measuring civic health through the Civic Health Index and founded the Algorithmic Transparency Institute at NCoC to enable journalists, researchers, and civil society advocates to make sense of our digital civic discourse.  

Prior to NCoC, Hickey led the Information Disorder Lab at the Shorenstein Center for Media, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School and as a journalist in public media. Hickey’s reporting has appeared on the PBS, Bill Moyers, American Experience, WNET, WIRED Magazine, ProPublica, The New York Times. Hickey spent a decade covering science and technology for the PBS NewsHour and NOVA where won a News and Documentary Emmy Award and a Newhouse Mirror Award for his reporting.

Kunal Botla

Kunal Botla is an interdisciplinary designer and advocate raised in Lexington whose work synthesizes architecture, policy, and community. He serves as the youngest member of Lexington’s elected Town Meeting and chairs the Transportation Advisory Committee with a focus on addressing concerns with new perspectives and solutions.

Kunal is currently an undergraduate at Tufts University. At Tufts, he is a board member of the Experimental College, writes and edits for the Daily, and was Parliamentarian of the undergraduate senate. Kunal previously organized a collective to support digital access during the pandemic and worked with The Hack Foundation to build social, technical, and legal support for early-stage and student-run organizations.

Representative Michelle Ciccolo

State Representative Michelle Ciccolo is a lifelong Lexington resident with a rich history in local government. As the Assistant Town Administrator and Community Development Director for the Town of Hudson, MA, Michelle spent 20 years leading and managing a wide range of capital projects and initiatives. She has served on two statewide planning organizations, including three years as the President of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) and three terms on the Massachusetts Municipal Association Board. She was also a gubernatorial appointee to the Local Government Advisory Commission. Before being elected to the Massachusetts General Court, Michelle served nearly two full terms on the Lexington Select Board and one term as an elected member of the Lexington Planning Board. 

Sara Sheikh

Sara is a Lexington-based community advocate dedicated to youth support, civic engagement, and social equity. She currently serves as the Chair for the Lexington MLK Day of Service and sits on the Board of Directors for Youth Counseling Connection. As an involved local volunteer, Sara has served as an Estabrook PTO Secretary, Estafest Co-Chair, and as a facilitator for the town’s “Dismantling Racism in Our Town” seminar.

Whether organizing large-scale days of service or supporting local schools, she is driven by a passion for building community and interpersonal relationships.

J. Kim Vandiver

After military service in Vietnam, Kim Vandiver completed a Ph.D. in Oceanographic Engineering, joined the MIT faculty in 1975 and settled in Lexington. At MIT he founded the Edgerton Center which provides authentic opportunities for high school and college students with a passion for hands-on learning.

On weekends he enjoys teaching youngsters the joy of flying sailplanes. In the winter you might meet him selling Christmas trees for the Follen UU church in East Lexington.