Civic infrastructure for real-time, people‑first insights.
We turn what's happening on the ground into verified civic insights that leaders can act on—quickly, responsibly, and at scale.
Our Mission
Transform ground truth into institutional clarity.
We help leaders see clearly, decide confidently, and serve communities better by turning verified, local reporting into system-ready civic insights that drive real impact.
Why Vngle Exists
Too often, the realities on the ground don't make it to the rooms where decisions are made.
Data comes late.
Narratives are distorted.
Communities are misunderstood.
Vngle was built to change that.
We train and verify local contributors, track provenance with patented technology, and deliver streamlined, trusted insight streams that decision-makers can rely on. It's civic infrastructure for a new era—where truth doesn't get lost in translation.
"I witnessed firsthand how critical information gets lost between communities and their leaders. Every community deserves to have its truth understood by the people shaping its future."
— Blake Stoner, Founder
Our Story
Building the Civic Infrastructure of the Future
Vngle wasn't built to fit into the system. It was built to fix what the system keeps missing.
The Moment We Saw the Gap
In an era flooded with misinformation, gutted local coverage, and fractured public trust, Vngle emerged with a bold ambition:
Reconnect the civic sphere with the lived realities of everyday people.
While over 60 million Americans live in news deserts—places with little to no civic visibility—we saw this not just as a media crisis, but as a deeper structural failure:
The system lacked infrastructure to surface, verify, and act on truth from the ground up.
So we didn't just launch a platform.
We built a new layer of civic infrastructure.
Where It Started: From Firsthand Gaps to First Principles
Ferguson, MO – 2016
While studying at Morehouse College, our founder Blake Stoner joined the ground response in Ferguson after civil unrest erupted. The mainstream media told a flattened story—missing nuance, local voices, and community understanding.
As the son of a city councilman and grandson of a Civil Rights Freedom Rider, Blake understood both sides: the halls of power and the truth on the pavement.
"I saw how critical information got lost between communities and their leaders. I knew we needed a new way to connect what's real to those responsible for real change."
From Field Research to First Reporting
2017–2018: 21-City Civic Listening Tour
While in graduate school at Columbia, Blake launched a self-funded 21-city journey to work directly with communities failed by traditional media systems. Residents weren't subjects—they were collaborators, co-architects of a more equitable way to source, verify, and share insight.
That same year, the first official Vngle story was captured, marking the birth of a model where everyday people could contribute to a verified, trusted civic signal—from the ground up.
From Local News to Civic Insights
2020: The Public Launch
Vngle debuted as a grassroots news operation focused on underreported areas. But as we scaled, it became clear:
This wasn't just about journalism.
It was about delivering institutional clarity—at speed, with proof, and with people at the center.
We developed:
- A network of trained, verified local contributors
- A patented provenance system to track the origin of insights
- A delivery engine for real-time, system-ready reporting
Institutions across media, government, research, and philanthropy began using Vngle to spot blind spots, respond to harm, and operate with community-aligned intelligence.
Our Model in Action
Vngle has trained hundreds of civic contributors across America—equipping them to surface insights in housing, health, education, public safety, consumer protection, and culture.
Those insights now fuel:
✅Investigative coverage with Consumer Reports (Beauty Justice)
✅Collaborative research with Harvard & Stanford
✅Insight delivery for local governments across metro Atlanta
✅Community storytelling in America's most diverse square mile (Clarkston, GA)
We deliver:
•Custom Insight Reports
•Multimedia Civic Stories
•Localized Data Streams
•Collaborative Research Briefings
…all designed for policy relevance, editorial usability, and public accountability.
A Nonpartisan Model, Built to Complement
We are proudly nonpartisan. Our mission isn't to take sides—it's to elevate what's real, regardless of political orientation. That's why researchers, journalists, and civic leaders across sectors trust Vngle to add fidelity to the civic lens.
Vngle doesn't replace media—it expands it.
Newsrooms use our infrastructure to source from places they can't reach. Cities use our insights to respond before crises grow. Funders use our data to allocate with equity.
Partnership Highlight: INI | Institute for Nonpartisan Innovation
In partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY), we co-founded INI, a civic innovation engine that trains next-gen leaders in grassroots-powered research and civic data practices.
Where We Are Now
We've listened. We've built. We've stayed on the ground.
Today, Vngle is the Civic Insights Company—the connective layer between ground truth and institutional decision-making.
Our infrastructure supports:
✅Real-time crisis visibility
✅Verified grassroots intelligence
✅Scalable city-to-city insight operations
✅Cross-sector trust building
This isn't just reporting.
This is civic infrastructure—built for trust, equity, and the future.
Let's Build What the System Needs Next
Vngle is actively partnering with:
📊 Researchers in need of verified, qualitative civic input
🏙️ Cities and agencies seeking real-time local visibility
📺 Media outlets needing community-sourced, broadcast-ready coverage
🌍 Philanthropic orgs rethinking how to track harm, impact, and equity
Whether you're a civic leader, data buyer, editor, or funder: We can help you see what's really happening—before it becomes tomorrow's headline.
🛠️ Let's build the next layer of civic infrastructure. Together.
From Grassroots Spark to National Infrastructure
2017
Began as a research initiative at Morehouse College after a field study trip to Ferguson, MO. Sparked a new vision for community-powered reporting.
2020
Launched Vngle as a grassroots news sourcing operation. Built the early tech stack for verifiable, transparent, and decentralized content capture.
2022
Expanded into a grassroots reporting agency. Enabled media outlets and civic leaders to access authentic, community-powered stories and data.
2025
Evolved into a full-scale Civic Insights Company. Launched CivicWire, delivering real-time, verified insights across the U.S. through a growing network of trained creators.
Our Core Values
Transparency
Every insight we deliver is traceable, verifiable, and community-sourced. We believe in total transparency—from how content is captured to how insights are used.
Community-First
Local voices are not just included—they're central. We co-create with community contributors and prioritize grassroots perspectives in everything we do.
Real-Time Impact
We deliver insight when it matters most. Our infrastructure is built for speed and accuracy, empowering fast decisions with lasting outcomes.
Meet Our Team
Our diverse team combines expertise in civic technology, community organizing, data science, and municipal partnerships to create meaningful change.
Blake Stoner
Founder & CEO
As Founder of Vngle, Blake Stoner is a pioneering force in the emerging field of civic infrastructure. With deep roots in grassroots organizing and civic technology, he’s helping institutions worldwide gain real-time insight to power smarter, more equitable decision-making. Nationally recognized as a thought leader in grassroots intelligence and civic innovation, Blake has held fellowships with Harvard, Stanford, USC, Columbia, the Internet Archive, and the Online News Association. He holds an MS in Strategic Communication from Columbia University and a BA in Economics from Morehouse College.
Dr. Shweta Jain
Research & Development
Dr. Shweta Jain brings over two decades of research and technology leadership to Vngle, where she drives the R&D that powers our patented systems and future-ready civic insights platform. As Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, she has led pioneering work in network technologies—from wireless and social networks to blockchain and next-generation Internet systems. Her expertise ensures Vngle stays ahead of emerging trends, building tools that are not only cutting-edge, but also secure, scalable, and trusted. Dr. Jain holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from Stony Brook University, and a B.E. in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from IIEST Shibpur.
Brandon Haung
Full Stack Software Engineer
Brandon is a full‑stack software engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Security from John Jay College. At Vngle, he designs, develops, and maintains scalable web and mobile applications, architects core system infrastructure, and implements cybersecurity measures to improve overall security posture. Leveraging expertise in front‑end frameworks, back‑end services, and DevOps practices, Brandon drives efficient development lifecycles and ensures resilient, secure solutions.
Kayla Arroyo
Community Outreach
Kayla Arroyo brings a powerful blend of community insight and healthcare expertise to Vngle’s grassroots engagement work. She has collaborated with leading institutions including Emory University, the CDC, and the National Science Foundation—helping pioneer outreach strategies that bridge gaps in underserved communities. Her work delivers innovative, culturally grounded solutions that improve access to care and strengthen trust at the local level. At Vngle, she has been instrumental in shaping outreach processes that ensure community voices drive meaningful action. She holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Georgia State University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Translational Biomedical Science.
Javaughn Lindsay
Civic Engagement Coordinator
Javaughn began his professional journey with Vngle as a mobile intern. His dedication and drive led to a full-time role, and he has now been part of the team for over a year. He thrives on taking on new opportunities and consistently challenges himself to grow both personally and professionally.
Koffison Voumadi
Full Stack Engineer
Koffison is a Mobile Engineering Fellow at Vngle and a recent graduate of John Jay College with a B.S. in Computer Science and Information Security. With experience in full-stack development through roles like NYC Tech Talent Pipeline, he builds efficient solutions using tools like React, AWS, and Docker. Outside of tech, he enjoys traveling, family time, and exploring new hobbies.
Ready to Partner?
We make it simple to go from interest to impact:
1. Book a 30-minute fit session
Define the communities, topics, and decisions that matter to you.
2. Run a CivicWire pilot
Get verified insights streamed in real-time and delivered in actionable formats.
3. Scale with confidence
Expand to more regions or sectors and integrate our infrastructure into your decision-making systems.