Cities as Centers for Deliberative Democracy
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Monthly Archives: August 2018
Deliberation and How We Use it in Everyday Life
The National Issues Forums Institute – an NCDD member and NCDD2018 sponsor org, recently shared an update on the work that the Kettering Foundation has found on the nature of public deliberation. While process and design are important parts of engagement work, the reality is that deliberation happens every day, both inside of ourselves and in our casual interactions. Having a structure is immensely helpful in bringing our reactions and decisions into more concrete reality, and yet even outside of the more formal spaces of forums, we are still going through the experience of weighing our options and deciding on next action steps in our everyday life. You can read the article below and find the original version on the NIFI site here.
Deliberation Every Day – An Update on Kettering Foundation Research on Public Deliberation
Two of the most-often-used words in describing public decision-making are deliberation and forums. All forums aren’t deliberative and all deliberations aren’t carried out informally organized forums. However, in this instance, the subject is deliberative forums. These forums serve several purposes. One is to remind people of their own ability to deliberate and to show what distinguishes deliberation from other forms of speech. When people become aware of their innate power to deliberate, it is self-empowering. Another function of deliberative forums is to help move public thinking from first opinions to more shared and reflective judgments. And still another is not just to inspire more forums but to bring deliberation into all the places and occasions where people are talking about the decisions they have to make as citizens.
There are some common misunderstandings that stand in the way of deliberative forums doing what they need to do in order to make democracy work as it should. One is that it is a magical process or technique that will produce a stable and lasting democracy. But, as has been said, democracy is a journey, not a destination. Deliberation helps people keep moving in a positive direction. Democracy does not produce perfect governments (if there are such things), yet it does foster governments that are able to recover from their inevitable mistakes. Another misperception is that only the well-educated and economically well-off citizenry can deliberate. That just isn’t true. Still another error is thinking that public deliberation will only be significant if it gets “up to scale.” Deliberating is difficult sometimes but it is naturally occurring; there are elements of it in everyday speech.[1]In that sense, it is already up to scale. The difficulty is that it is often interrupted by partisan diatribes, blaming, wish-listing, and other common maladies of public talk. Recognizing what deliberation is like and what it can do are the antidotes.
The choices citizens make about what should be done to solve their problems or set policies need to be sound choices. That is the role of deliberation. Without deliberation, discussions easily degenerate into personal pleadings, sound bites, and partisan rancor. Peoples’ first opinions may be store-bought, prepackaged, and unreflective. Originally the word meant to weigh carefully, as was done on the ancient balancing scales used to determine the value of goods sold in the marketplace. Weighing means exercising good judgment, which has also been called moral reasoning. Moral reasoning or judgment is required when decisions have to be made about what is best for all or, in an ethical sense, what should bedone. There are no experts on such normative questions, and in a democracy there is no authority to give answers other than the people themselves.
The most distinctive characteristic of deliberation is giving a “fair trial” to unpopular views. That is difficult, which is why deliberation has been called “choice work.” Deliberation recognizes that our most challenging decisions aren’t between options that are good and those that are evil. Rather they are between options that are both good yet are in tension in given situations. For instance, doing something that will make us more secure may well restrict our freedom. In a democracy, there is no one authority everyone accepts who can tell us what is most valuable to us. We are the only ones who can do that. However, different people, being in different situations and having different experiences, will have different priorities. And these differences, which won’t go away, can only be harmonized or made less polarizing by the collective exercise of judgment. And that is the purpose of public deliberation.
Deliberation is intertwined with acting and isn’t a separate process; the experience of acting continually shapes the decision-making, just as the decision-making shapes the action.[2]It makes no sense to think of deliberation as separate from action. In fact, past actions or experiences, when filtered through the things people consider most valuable, often become the “facts” most relevant in making decisions. The public deliberation that Kettering has seen uses expert and professional knowledge but adds the information people create as they look at their experiences through the lenses of what they hold dear.
Although deliberation is difficult, it is a natural act. The human brain is wired for deliberation. And ancient languages around the world have a term for collective decision-making because it is essential to collective survival. The purpose of forums isn’t to introduce a new methodology, “deliberation,” but rather to make people more aware of a natural faculty. That recognition is empowering—self-empowering.
In daily conversations, people talk about the problems that concern them, what action should be taken to respond, and who is needed to act. Yet their casual conversations may not sound very deliberative. Deliberation isn’t something apart from ordinary speech but goes on in multiple layers of talk. At times people may just be complaining or posturing or looking for someone to blame. Carefully weighing alternatives may be interspersed with comments that don’t appear to have anything to do with deliberating. People may start conversations by telling a story about some troubling experience and then move on to explaining who they are in order to establish their identity. “Don’t think I am heartless when I say. . . .”
Everyday deliberation often begins to take shape over backyard fences, during coffee breaks, and at the grocery store. People start by talking to those they live and work with—sometimes including even those who aren’t of a like mind. (People who look alike don’t necessarily think alike.) And while people often take comfort in opinions they like, they may also be curious about contrary views, provided those views aren’t being advanced in an offensive manner. People certainly try to persuade one another as they hold on to cherished beliefs. Yet they may do more; they may begin to weigh the options they like best more carefully.
Although found in many neighborhood conversations, deliberation can’t always be heard because much of the careful weighing of options for action goes on inside people’s heads. Still, deliberation involves listening as much as it does speaking. By listening attentively, we can take in the experiences of others without necessarily agreeing with what they are advocating.
One of the main contributions of formally organized forums is to help people recognize ways they can move informal, top-of-the-head chatter in a deliberative direction. There, one may hear helpful questions like, “How does what we are seeing affect you personally or your family?” This gets at what people hold dear. Or a question like, “What else do people consider valuable?” broadens the focus beyond things purely individualistic. “Do you know of anybody else who is concerned but might have a different opinion?” expands the focus, as does the follow-up question, “Why do you think they care?” And asking, “If that is what bothers you, what would you do about it?” moves the conversation to options for action. That opens the door to a follow-up, “If we did what you propose but it had negative consequences for what you said you cared about, would you still favor your proposal?” This kind of question brings out tensions among all that people consider valuable. And it encourages careful weighing of options. Note that these deliberative-friendly questions are quite ordinary. There isn’t anything that they require before asking them.
The citizens’ briefing books that NIF uses follow the same basic line of conversation. They describe the things people consider valuable, present options for action that follow from these concerns, and then show the tensions or trade-offs that people have to work through in order to reach shared and reflective decisions about what they are or aren’t willing to do.
I should be clear that I am not suggesting that organized forums use these questions as a script for a moderator to follow. Nothing would be more likely to inhibit the exchange that must go on in order for people to deliberate with one another. These are just illustrations of what “working through” sounds like.
[1]See Jane Mansbridge, “Everyday Talk in the Deliberative System,” in Deliberative Politics: Essays on Democracy and Disagreement, ed. Stephen Macedo (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999). Her concept of a “system” helps locate deliberative forums in the larger context of political speech.
[2]Daniel Yankelovich, Coming to Public Judgment: Making Democracy Work in a Complex World (Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 1991), 95-96
You can find the original version of this post on the National Issues Forums Institute blog at www.nifi.org/en/deliberation-every-day-update-kettering-foundation-research-public-deliberation.
Help Students Attend NCDD 2018 – Scholarship Drive Launches Today!
The 2018 NCDD national conference is coming up this November, and as we share more and more details with you all, the interest in the conference continues to grow! Not everyone who wants to join us has the ability to cover all their expenses, however, and so today we are launching our NCDD 2018 Scholarship Fund Drive to help those who need some financial assistance in attending the conference, particularly students and young people.
Would you like to make a difference in sponsoring someone to be able to attend the conference?
Our amazing NCDD community has stepped up year after year to make sure that students, young people, and those who need a little support can join us for this exciting gathering. We are hoping to raise at least $10,000 for scholarships, if not more, and we can’t do it without you! Whether you can give $5, $500, or beyond – please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Scholarship Fund today!
Scholarship applications have been coming in over the last several weeks, many from students looking to explore more deeply the field of dialogue and deliberation, and make those essential connections for growing their practice. As part of the theme for this conference, Connecting and Strengthening Civic Innovators, we will focus on how to bring D&D work into more widespread practice; a big part of which, is expanding the inclusivity of our field. We must consider who will continue to carry on this work and that contributing to the Scholarship Fund is a concrete way to support our fellow innovators and ultimately, the future of our field.
We’ve heard from 5 individual students who would love to attend NCDD, several for the first time – but are unable to get there without a little help. If you have resources to make a difference, even a little can go a long way for these students!
Student registration is $250. Our hotel room rate is $82.50/night for a shared room. Airfare costs $300 roundtrip on average. That means, for a student, young person, or someone with a limited income, the overall cost of $250-$1,000+ can make attending NCDD feel impossible. If we can raise $10,000, we will be able to help at least 25 people attend this conference who otherwise would not be able to afford it. The more we raise, the more people we can help attend NCDD 2018!
Who Your Donations Support
Please take a minute to read the 5 quick stories below, from some of the students seeking scholarships, who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend the conference. If you’d like to help support their attendance at NCDD 2018, please contribute to the scholarship fund here and enter “Scholarship Fund” in the “Donation Note” field!
Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to helping us provide travel reimbursements, shared hotel rooms, and registration for scholarship hopefuls. Plus, anyone who donates $50 or more will have their contribution acknowledged in the printed conference guidebook!
1. One senior at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Fletcher, hopes to attend as a co-presenter in a workshop called, Bridging Divides through Dialogue and Digital Narratives. As Fletcher put it, “I would like to attend the NCDD conference because I want to continue learning to communicate with people different than myself. I am particularly interested in the 2018 theme because… Although CU has slowly made progress in becoming more racially diverse, it is still very politically homogeneous. Although I tend to fit in with the majority opinion, it feels wrong to me that conservative or independent views are squashed on campus. Attending the NCDD conference would help me to foster an environment at CU in which all views are, at least, listened to and attempted to be understood.”
As a Colorado resident not far from Denver, Fletcher is only seeking support to cover the $250 conference registration fee for students, which they cannot afford at this time.
2. One woman named Brenda describes herself as an undocumented student, hoping to help share other stories from the undocu-community “in order to move the world in a productive direction.” She believes that “dialogue is the way we change the world”. She recently accepted a student teaching job and as a Colorado resident not far from Denver, Brenda’s also only seeking support to cover the $250 conference registration fee for students, which she cannot afford at this time.
3. Fatima, a Pakistani immigrant, just completed an undergraduate degree in Peace & Conflict Studies from the University of Waterloo. She dreams one day of “launching an intra-faith dialogue program that allows the Muslim community to dialogue around polarizing topics.” Her positive experience at the last NCDD conference allowed her to “develop many connections and start making a lay-out of my envisioned dialogue program.” She hopes to attend this next conference as a way to “continue learning, continue making connections and continue working on my dialogue program.”
Fatima has a $100 voucher for her airfare and is hoping for some additional support to make the trip from Canada – as well as cover the $250 student registration and lodging.
4. Amanda is a full-time student at Portland State University conducting her dissertation on the educative potential of participatory democracy and dialogue. She’s hoping to attend NCDD for the first time to help present in the session, “The Art of Civic Engagement”. As a mother of two young children, however, she lacks the resources to attend this conference without it creating a financial hardship.
Amanda can contribute $50, but is hoping for help to cover the remaining $200 of student registration. She’s also hoping to find low-cost lodging, and potentially some travel support.
5. Sam is an Asian-American student getting his Master’s in Conflict Resolution at the University of Denver. He is hoping to attend NCDD for the first time. Sam’s introduction to dialogue began as an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer (current role) for a conservation non-profit in Trinidad, Colorado – a rural city on the southern border with New Mexico. There he was tasked with developing collaborative projects to tackle environmental concerns in the local watershed. “To do this,” he writes, “I set up a committee that included city employees, recreation enthusiasts, conservationists, and ranchers and producers to look at resource issues on a 4.5 mile stretch of the river as it runs through town. Through this process, I learned about the importance of facilitating open dialogue and reaching consensus among a group of people with diverse interests to address environmental concerns.”
Sam can contribute $50, and is seeking an additional $200 to cover the student registration cost. As a Denver resident, the rest of his expenses are covered.
The individuals above are just a few select stories of many who have reached out and have requested support. Can you help these students and others like them join us for NCDD 2018? Contribute on our donation page today!
Second Round of NCDD2018 Workshop Announced!
Check out the second round of workshops happening at the 2018 National Conference for Dialogue & Deliberation from Friday, November 2nd to Sunday, November 4th! This year’s exciting convening will take place in Colorado at the Sheraton Denver Downtown – which you can book using our discounted room block by clicking here. We encourage folks attending the conference to consider arriving a little early because we have several fantastic pre-conference sessions available on Thursday, November 1st (read more here). Stay tuned to the blog in the coming weeks to learn about the rest of the 60 total sessions that will be offered at #NCDD2018!
NCDD2018 Workshop Sessions
We will continue to announce workshop sessions over the coming weeks to follow!
Respect & Rebellion: Fighting to Preserve a Civic Ecosystem on American Campuses
Like the enormous resources invested to preserve natural ecosystems under threat, it’s time for complementary “species” of dialogue organizations to come together to find creative ways to protect our civic ecosystem under serious threat. Our collaboration brings together premiere student and faculty organizations spanning the sociopolitical divide, with technological innovations that help amplify the work of dialogue. We will also share and gather feedback on our campaign to get “divergent speaker pairs” to model trustworthy rivalry on campuses while inviting students to complete a “subversive friendship” dare.
Liz Joyner
CEO & Founder, The Village Square
Kyle Emile
Founder, Free Intelligent Conversations
Jacob Hess
Co-Founder & Co-Director, Village Square Utah
Board Member, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
Mannie Ajayi
CEO & Co-Founder, Pnyka
Manu Meel
CEO, BridgeUSA
Junior, UC Berkeley
Andrew Evans
BYU Law School, Center for Conflict Resolution
What Did We Just Talk About? How to Turn Deliberative Talk into Deliverable Data
Deliberative events bring community members together to address public problems, but what happens after the discussion is over? How do we turn participant input into useable information? During this session, we’ll brainstorm ways to build data collection into process design. We’ll think about the different information needs of various partners community organizations, government officials, practitioners, and academics and discuss how to generate data that captures the conversation, highlights citizen decisions, and evaluates the process without straining organizational resources.
Katie Knobloch
Assistant Professor and Associate Director, CSU Center for Public Deliberation
Sara Drury
Director and Associate Professor, Wabash Democracy and Public Discourse
Kalie McMonagle
Program Coordinator, CSU Center for Public Deliberation
Ben Franklin Circles: Small Conversations about Big Ideas
Ben Franklin Circles from the 92nd Street Y are a nationwide initiative to bring together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to discuss how they can improve themselves and the larger community. At monthly meetings, Circles use Franklin’s 13 virtues (moderation, humility, silence, etc.) as discussion prompts and personal growth commitments. In this presentation/workshop, Julie Mashack and Patty Morrissey from 92Y will provide a general overview of the project and then lead a Ben Franklin Circle-style meeting for people to experience the model.
Julie Mashack
Director of Global Programs, Belfer Center for Innovation and Social Impact, 92nd Street Y
Patty Morrissey
Outreach Consultant, 92nd Street Y
Collective Leadership for Community Change
In an era when community organizations can no longer succeed on their own, shared leadership has ascended as the logical next step toward successful collective action. The co-creators of this session offer a helpful starting point for turning outward toward our communities, explaining how we can harness the collective capacity within and across our organizations to achieve significant and lasting impact. This interactive session will provide an overview of collective leadership and then some case studies how it helps move communities forward by creating sustainable and systemic social change.
Nancy Kranich
Lecturer and Special Projects Librarian, Rutgers University School of Communication and Information
Cassandra O’Neill
CEO, Leadership Alchemy LLC
Voting, Art, and Dialogue: Building Democratic Capacity through Voting Stories
Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, yet is often shrouded in secrecy. While ballots themselves should remain private, the process of voting can and should be a social activity. This session will share an event that infused art and dialogue to encourage university students and community members to come together and share their stories of democratic participation. Multimedia products of the event will serve as inspiration to attendees as they have the chance to explore their own voting story and plan how to create a dialogue around voting in their own communities.
Marsha Olson
Instructor of Communication, University of Alaska Anchorage
Donna Aguiniga
Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Alaska Anchorage
The Definitive Online Public Engagement Checklist
Online engagement can dovetail powerfully with face to face dialog events to dramatically increase the reach of public engagement. Inspired by an extensive review of case studies that have engaged over 10,000 people online, this session will produce the first ever definitive checklist to prepare engagement professionals for the effective application of online public engagement to support their outreach projects. This checklist will be compiled into an eBook based on the research results and the practical experience of NCDD attendees through a fast-paced interactive exercise.
Dave Biggs
Chief Engagement Officer, MetroQuest
Eileen Barron
Strategic Communications Manager, Utah Department of Transportation
Saying “Yes, and” in a Polarized World
In a polarized world improv has emerged as a tool for bringing people together and transforming conversation. With a focus on ‘yes and’ and ensemble-building, improv helps people create together using everything including disagreements. Participants will be introduced to an approach to development and community building that uses improv to create ensembles with some of the most contentious groups including police/youth, refugees/locals and people across the political spectrum. Participants will perform and lead conversations that embrace differences, encourage risk-taking and meaning-making.
Carrie Lobman
Chair, Department of Learning and Teaching, Rutgers University
Lainie Hodges
Development Specialist, Improv Alchemy
Storytelling, Embodied Cognition and Climate Activism: A Faster Learning Process
Climate campaign organizations typically don’t have time to invest in face-to-face storytelling training for their activists, and climate activists sometimes view storytelling as a gimmick. Former academic and philosopher Maria Talero develops communication interventions based on embodied cognition, a revolutionary area in the scientific study of consciousness. This interactive session will spotlight key practices in speeding up the storytelling learning process for Citizen’s Climate Lobby advocates and lobbyists who work to bridge the partisan climate gap in Congress and around the country.
Maria Talero
Principal, Climate Courage LLC
Thaddeus Cummins
Area Coordinator, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Colorado
Managing Researcher, Economic GPS
A Road Map to Washington’s Future
Instead of establishing a typical “blue ribbon task force,” the Washington State Legislature asked the William D. Ruckelshaus Center to articulate a vision for a desired future, and identify needed additions, revisions or clarifications to the state’s growth management framework. The Center conducted 50+ dialogue workshops across the state, engaging local leaders and elected officials, and will present a final report in June 2019. This session will engage participants in an interactive conversation on tools, tips, and lessons learned conducting state-wide engagement processes.
Amanda Murphy
Senior Project Lead, William D. Ruckelshaus Center, University of Washington & Washington State University
Molly Stenovec
Project & Program Manager, William D. Ruckelshaus Center, University of Washington & Washington State University
Michael Kern
Director, William D. Ruckelshaus Center, University of Washington & Washington State University
Building Bridges: A Community Collaboration for Culture Change
In November 2017, City of Boulder embarked on a two-year experiment working with the community to change the culture of local civic dialogue. In partnership with University of Colorado’s Center for Communication and Democratic Engagement, city staff engaged more than 400 community members in design-thinking workshops, online forums, and multi-generational programs to discover ideas that could lead to more productive communication. In this session, participants will experience elements of the workshop process first-hand as well as learning about the prototypes that were generated in Boulder.
Brenda Ritenour
Neighborhood Liaison, City Manager’s Office, City of Boulder
Lydia Reinig
Center for Communication and Democratic Engagement, University of Colorado Boulder
More to come soon!
Florida Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference!
Well, it’s happening soon, and registration is open, so please come join your friends and colleagues in sunny Orlando at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center from October 19 through October 21, 2018 for the 61st Annual Florida Council for the Social Studies Conference!
You can expect a great many quality sessions across a variety of K-12 Social Studies content areas, from experienced teachers, pre-service educators, college professors, and service providers. These sessions will address both content and pedagogy, and check this space for more information! Once the program is available, it WILL be posted!
The keynote speakers we are targeting this year are leaders in the field and will engage and refresh your energy and passion for the social studies!
We will be posting about the upcoming conference every week. Please be sure to register today!
Executive Director of Lou Frey Institute is a Finalist for a Civvy Award!
So we got some excellent news from the civic education community recently. The Executive Director of the Lou Frey Institute, Dr. Doug Dobson, was named as one of the 23 finalists for an American Civic Collaboration Award! Check out the press release, and the list of honorees, below. Dr. Dobson has been an amazing leader and mentor for the staff of the Florida Joint Center for Citizenship at the Lou Frey Institute, as well as a leading advocate and organizer for civic education in Florida and the nation. We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition!
Announcing 23 Outstanding Efforts of Civic Collaboration as Finalists for Civvys Awards
With the midterm elections just over three months away, in a nation that feels more divided than ever, a treasure trove of hope and inspiration appears. The 23 finalists for the American Civic Collaboration Awards, or the Civvys, showcase exemplar cases of high-impact civic collaboration that bring people together, engage communities in political and social action, and enact long-lasting change.
Now in its second year, the Civvys acknowledge inspiring work that’s national, local, youth-focused or involves the political process. They are sponsored by three highly respected non-partisan organizations: the Bridge Alliance, Big Tent Nation and the National Conference on Citizenship.
Finalists were selected from a competitive field of exceptional submissions from all corners of American life. By recognizing projects and processes that emphasize collaboration, civility and on-the-ground impact, the Civvys are a powerful means to honor this work and inspire more of it.
An esteemed committee of reviewers – comprised of leaders in civic engagement, politics, research and community impact – will select a winner in each category to receive their awards at the National Conference in Citizenship on October 18, 2018 in Washington, D.C.
If you would like to conduct interviews with the finalists, please contact caroline@bigtentnation.org Additionally, there is room for press to attend and cover the award ceremony on October 18 in Washington, D.C.
The 2018 Civvys Finalists
Political
Cases of collaborative political leadership, campaigns, or reformed political processes
- Congress to Campus by USAFMC
- Leslie Danks Burke, Trailblazers PAC
- Seattle City Club Washington State Debate Coalition
- RCV Education Effort (The Chamberlain Project Foundation and The Foundation for Independent Voter Education)
- Representative Kim Dudik, Montana State Legislature
National
Projects with a nationwide scope and audience
- ENACT: The Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation
- Douglas Dobson, Lou Frey Institute
- Louise Dube, iCivics
- Make America Dinner Again (Justine Lee, Tria Chang)
- Maria Yuan, Issue Voter
- Rob Fersh, Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
Local
Projects with a local, statewide or regional focus
- Betty Knighton, West Virginia Center for Civic Life
- Christie Lassen and Alli Jessing, Howard County Library System
- Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation
- Interfaith Works El Hindi Center for Dialogue (Beth Broadway, Peter Willner and team)
- Janet Harris, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute
- Make Shift Coffee House, Craig Freshley
Youth
Projects led by or for children, teenagers or young adults
- Bridge the Divide
- First Vote NC
- Inspire U.S., Hannah Mixdorf and Chelsea Costello
- Junior State of America’s Council of Governors
- Lynn University, Project Civitas
- Montevallo Junior City Council
All honorable mentions and finalists are available at www.civvys.org. Follow the conversation around this exciting work on social media using #Civvys.
The Participation Company Offers IAP2 Fall Trainings
In case you missed it, NCDD member org The Participation Company, has added additional trainings to their line up to carry out the end of the year, that we encourage NCDDers to check out! TCP offers certification in the International Association for Public Participation‘s model, and dues-paying NCDD members get a discount on registration! You can read more about the trainings in the TCP announcement below and learn more here.
The Participation Company’s 2018 Training Events
If you work in communications, public relations, public affairs, planning, public outreach and understanding, community development, advocacy, or lobbying, this training will help you to increase your skills and to be of even greater value to your employer.
This is your chance to join the many thousands of practitioners worldwide who have completed the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) certificate training.
AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for these courses.
Foundations in Public Participation (5-Day) Certificate Program:
Planning for Effective Public Participation (3-Days) and/or *Techniques for Effective Public Participation (2-Days)
- Sep. 24 – 28: Chicago, IL: 5-day Both courses
- Oct 29 – Nov 2: Ashville, NC: 5-day Both courses
- Dec 3 – 7: Salt Lake City, UT: 5-day Both courses
*The 3-Day Planning training is a prerequisite to Techniques training
IAP2’s Strategies for Dealing with Opposition and Outrage in Public Participation (2-Days) formally Emotion, Outrage – newly revised and renamed
- Oct. 18-19 in Chicago, IL
- Nov 29 – 30 in Denver, CO
Register online for these trainings at www.theparticipationcompany.com/training
The Participation Company (TPC) offers discounted rates to NCDD members.
TPC can also assist you and your organization in other endeavors! Our team of highly experienced professionals help government and business clients manage public issues to accomplish client’s objectives. We can plan and manage your participation project from start to finish. We can provide strategic advice and direction. We can coach and mentor your staff and managers. We help you build agreements and craft durable and defensible decisions.
You can find the original version of this announcement on the TPC site at www.theparticipationcompany.com/training/calendar/.
ENGAGING IDEAS – 08/10/2018
Democracy
Democratic Socialism Threatens Minorities (The Atlantic)
Nothing
better protects victims of bigotry than a system where they can pursue their
needs and wants outside the realm of popular control. Continue Reading
Facebook should shut down its News Feed until the midterm
elections (Salon.com)
This
week, Facebook announced that it had uncovered accounts and pages with a total
of nearly 300,000 followers that were propaganda intended to interfere with the
midterm elections this November. While the social media company's revelation
fell short of stating that Russia was behind these covert accounts, other
federal law enforcement and government officials later confirmed as much. Continue Reading
Preventing the suicide of American democracy (The Hill)
A
new
study
of American public attitudes suggests our democracy indeed may be heading
toward a cliff, but it also suggests ways we can pull it back toward health and
long-term survival. Continue Reading
Opportunity/Inequality
As Affordable Housing Crisis Grows, HUD Sits on
the Sidelines (The New York Times)
The
country is in the grips of an escalating housing affordability crisis. Millions
of low-income Americans are paying 70 percent or more of their incomes for
shelter, while rents continue to rise and construction of affordable rental
apartments lags far behind the need. Continue Reading
The real reason you're not getting a pay raise (Vox)
The
economy is growing strongly, the unemployment rate has been at or below 4.5
percent for 16 straight months, but wage growth remains disappointingly low. Continue Reading
How inequality is affecting nations' economic growth (Eyewitness
News)
A
new study by the Opportunity and Growth Institute at the Minneapolis Fed found
that the housing boom and bust made middle-class Americans poorer but boosted
wealth for the richest 10%, widening the income and wealth gap substantially. Continue Reading
Engagement
Here's How Colleges Can Get More Involved in Elections - and Not
Just in the Midterms (Chronicle of Higher Education)
A
new report released on
Thursday from the Institute for Democracy & Higher Education at Tufts
University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, tries to answer that
question. The report draws on years of research, including IDHE's data on college
voter registration and turnout, said Nancy Thomas, director of the institute. Continue Reading
Stanford Undergrads Build New Platform to Connect Citizens with
Elected Officials (Government Technology)
Pulse
is a civic engagement platform that simplifies info about legislation, allows
constituents to make their opinions known and gives elected leaders a
simplified dashboard to process input. Continue Reading
Driving citizen engagement through mobile technologies (GCN)
Encouraging
citizens to be more involved in their own governance is nothing new. The direct
democracy model of ancient Athenian government, in which every (free) citizen
voted directly on laws and other legislation, is perhaps the most famous -- and
extreme -- example of the principle of citizen engagement. Continue Reading
K-12
Only 20% of US kids study a language in school-compared to 92%
in Europe (Quartz)
Kids
in the US take classes in English, which works out pretty well for them. The dominant global
language right now happens to be their default. Perhaps that's one
reason why only 20% of US students in kindergarten through 12th grade learn a
foreign language, according to new Pew Research Center data. Continue Reading
More teachers are turning to crowdfunding sites to pay for
books, supplies, and field trips (Vox)
Educators
at high-poverty schools spend more out of pocket on their classrooms. Continue Reading
Worried about enrollment, some Colorado school districts are
suing to prevent cross-district busing (Chalkbeat)
Six
school districts and the associations that represent them are suing to stop a
change to Colorado law that could increase access to school choice but that was
approved
under questionable circumstances. Continue Reading
Higher Ed/Workforce
Why fewer kids work the kind of summer jobs that their parents
used to have (Salon.com)
While
the presence of teenagers in the summer workforce in July 1978 was at 72
percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Population Survey reported a
July 2016 teen labor force participation rate of 43 percent. A recent
report by the Pew Research Center analyzed the average summer employment rate for 16- to
19-year-olds in June, July and August 2017 and found that only 35 percent of
teens has a summer job. Continue Reading
Abuse Scandals Involving Doctors Have Shaken Several Colleges.
Now Others Are Making Changes. (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Fallout
from incidents at Michigan State, the University of Southern California, and
Ohio State has driven institutions to add new protective measures - both to
safeguard students and to minimize their own liability. Continue Reading
Netflix Versions of Higher Education Emerge (OZY.com)
Tech
startups such as Coorpacademy are trying to break into the global corporate
education sector, dominated by business schools and this year estimated to be
worth $362 billion, according to analysts Training Industry Research. New
entrants offer eye-catching alternatives, and are often aimed at younger
workers. But they have a long way to go. Continue Reading
Health Care
Governors Association Works with Eight States
to Improve Health Data Sharing (Government Technology)
In a 16-month initiative, the National Governors Association
is working with eight states on health policies that could enhance data sharing
and improve identity management and cost effectiveness. Continue Reading
Value-based purchasing programs tougher for
academic hospitals (Modern Healthcare)
Academic medical centers are penalized more under the CMS'
various value-based purchasing programs than community hospitals, according to
a new report. Continue Reading
Are diagnostic health apps accurate?
Researchers say there's no way to tell (Fierce Healthcare)
As more people turn to their phone or laptop for a medical
diagnosis, some industry experts are pointing to a growing evidence gap that
could leave consumers unable to determine which apps are most effective. Continue Reading
Election Imperatives: Ten Recommendations to Increase College Student Voting and Improve Political Learning and Engagement in Democracy
I’m on vacation and not blogging, but I’m proud to help circulate a major new report from our Institute for Democracy & Higher Education entitled Election Imperatives. It recommends 10 strategies that colleges and universities should implement to improve political participation on college campuses in 2018 and beyond. The Chronicle of Higher Education ran an exclusive story on it this morning. More than a dozen national organizations are endorsing and disseminating the report, and you can see that list here. There is also a nice video gif of the report with photos.
Here are the 10 headings, but you have to consult the report to understand them fully:
- Reflect on past elections and reimagine 2018
- Remove barriers to student voting
- Develop informed voters
- Establish a permanent and inclusive coalition to improve the climate for learning and participation
- Increase and improve classroom issue discussions across disciplines
- Support student activism and leadership
- Empower students to create a buzz around the election
- Invest in the right kind of training
- Talk politics across campus
- Involve faculty across disciplines in elections
Upcoming Webinar on DCP’s Academy Training Initiative
We are excited to share an upcoming academy training initiative, Strengthening Democratic Engagement to Address Local Civil Unrest and Community Division, hosted by the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution and the Divided Community Project (DCP) at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law – an NCDD member. This is a free opportunity to attend the Academy and learn strategies around addressing divisions and civil unrest in your community. Sign up for the informational webinar on Tuesday, August 14th to learn more! You can read the announcement below and find the original on the DCP site here.
DCP Launches Academy Training Initiative – Strengthening Democratic Engagement to Address Local Civil Unrest and Community Division
Complete your community’s application today!
Academy Details
In Chicago, on March 3, 4, and 5, 2019, the Divided Community Project (DCP) at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, in partnership with the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution (Collectively the Hosts) host a national Academy, We, the People: Strengthening Democratic Engagement to Address Civil Unrest for Community Leaders. The program’s goals are three-fold:
- Strengthen conflict resolution-related planning, capacity building, and the specific skill-sets of each participant and participating communities to better identify and implement constructive strategies to prepare for, address, and/or respond to local policies, practices, and/or actions of residents or local officials, that undermine community trust and may divide and polarize communities.
- Support and strengthen the development of a local ‘core’ leadership convener group that can serve as a reliable source of independent information, and cross-sector collaborative planning and engagement, for its community’s public sector leadership.
- Provide planning opportunities for each leadership team to build on Academy programming through further initiatives within each respective, participating community.
DCP Steering Committee members will facilitate the Academy with support from the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. Collectively, Academy leaders bring significant experience in serving as mediators, interveners, and process designers, in conflicts of national significance and are recognized not only as nationally pre-eminent trainers of mediators and facilitators but also as authors of leading books, articles, and pedagogical materials examining effective third-party intervention principles and strategies in divisive community conflicts.
The Academy program will include conversation with civic leaders versed in the challenges of addressing community division and facing potential or imminent civil unrest. Using the Divided Community Project’s tools as a guide—including strategies used in other DCP communities—participants will develop constructive and collaborative strategies to prepare for, address, or respond to resident or official actions that polarize community members. Core leaders from each community attending the Academy will develop strategies so that the group can serve as a reliable source of independent planning and engagement to its community’s public political leadership.
Application Timeline*
August 14, 2018 at 12:30 Eastern: Participate on a forty-five minute informational webinar. The webinar will be available as a recording if prospective applicants cannot attend. Sign up for the webinar using this link.
DEADLINE: September 7, 2018: Submit this preliminary application.
September 15 to November 1, 2018: Work with the Hosts to further illustrate commitment to the project.
November 15, 2018: Academy participants announced.
* depending on the number of applications received, the Hosts may extend one or more of the above-referenced dates or deadlines.
Application Criteria
The Hosts intend to communities based on three criteria: diversity, commitment, and need.
Diversity
Diversity is fundamental to the program. The hosts anticipate selecting participant communities that collectively reflect diversity of geography, size, and community demographics. The hosts urge core leadership groups to consider how they reflect the diversity of their own community.
Commitment
Applicants should identify the four to seven core leaders who are committed to attending the national academy on March 3, 4, and 5.
Applicants should tentatively articulate how the core leadership group will begin convening broad-based community planning efforts to identify and address issues that polarize the community and whether and how the core leadership group has (or will) meet prior to the Academy.
Applicants should commit to working with the Divided Community Project—following the Academy—to implement initiatives aimed at addressing community polarization.
Need
Applicants should articulate their perception of issues polarizing their home community as well as their perception of the next issues that may be facing their home community.
Informational Webinar August 14, 2018 at 12:30 Eastern:
- To join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device please click this URL: https://zoom.us/j/949768906
- To join by phone:
- Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 436 2866
- Webinar ID: 949 768 906
Commonly Asked Questions
What is the cost? Due to generous support from the AAA-ICDR Foundation, the Academy is free for core community leaders. The Hosts will provide coach airfare, lodging, and meals for Academy participants.
You can read the original announcement on the DCP’s site at https://moritzlaw.osu.edu/dividedcommunityproject/2018/07/16/dcp-launches-community-training-initiative/.