Author Archives: NCDD Community

Turn Up The Volume!

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This post was submitted by NCDD member Jeffrey Abelson of Song Of A Citizen. If you are interested in getting involved or sharing your stories with Jeffrey, email him at ja@songofacitizen.com.

Many of you know me from the videos I’ve produced with D&D leaders over the last few years.

I’ve done that under the umbrella of my non-profit, non-partisan “Song Of A Citizen” project — the mission of which is to create an ongoing slate of films and videos to inspire fellow Americans to engage as citizens more seriously, and to participate in dialogue and deliberation forums as one of the best ways to do that.

But as you all well know, most people have never heard of D&D. So shining a bright spotlight on the field is critical. Doing it through the production of mass appeal media is one of my top priorities. I seek nothing less than to make D&D a household word.

And I could use your help.

If you haven’t seen the original Video Op-Ed series we did, you might want to check that out.

Ditto the series of interviews I filmed with D&D leaders at the last NCDD conference.

Now it’s time to shift from projects that feature experts, and therefore have a limited (though critical) audience — to projects designed to resonate with the general public. That’s actually my strong suit. I’ve been making films and videos that reach and impact millions of people for 30 years (from prime time PBS documentaries to high profile MTV videos). You can learn more about my creative work at http://jeffreyabelson.com.

But my main focus these day is how to turn up the volume on D&D so the general public, and mainstream media, know that (a) these processes and opportunities actually exist and (b) that they very well may be the elusive answer that frustrated and cynical citizens have long been looking for.

To that end, I’d like to mention one project I’ve been developing that I’d love see take off soon. It’s a documentary feature film called “The Deciders” — which will tell the stories of diverse citizens who’ve participated in successful deliberative forums in recent years, along with some enlightened public officials who’ve participated as well. The film will tell their stories using a variety of artful cinematic devices. It won’t be a typical talking heads film.

Courtesy of Tyrone Reitman and Elliot Shuford, I’ve already spoken with a number of people who participated Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review. And they told me some really inspiring stories about how their participation triggered big attitude shifts (in how they viewed the issue being considered, or the role as a citizen more broadly).

Now I’d like to connect with folks in other parts of the country, who’ve participated in other projects, and who have other compelling stories of transformation to tell.

I imagine many of you know of many such people/stories. If so, I’d love to hear about them, and get some contact info.

And if you feel you might have other ideas or resources that could help this project, or the overall “Song Of A Citizen” mission — then, by all means, please let me know.

It’s time to crank up the dial, and make some noise about all this!

New Training: Integrating Collab Tech for Public Participation

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This post was submitted by Jason Gershowitz of Kearns & West, and NCDD organizational members, via out Add-to-Blog form.

KearnsAndWest_logoKearns & West is pleased to announce Integrating Collaborative Technologies into Public Participation: a one-day training on September 22 in collaboration with the International Association for Public Participation’s 2013 North America Conference in Salt Lake City, UT.

Participants will learn approaches for integrating collaborative technologies into public participation initiatives. Technologies will be applied in a hands-on format to varying levels of public engagement: Inform, Consult, Involve,
Collaborate, and Empower.

Register for the Training for $325 at http://tinyurl.com/CTTraining

For more info about Kearns & West’s Collaborative Technology services and training opportunities contact Jason Gershowitz, Collaborative Technology Associate at Kearns & West, at 202.448.8781 or jgershowitz@kearnswest.com.

Leading Engagement: Involving People in the Decisions that Affect Them

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This post was submitted by NCDD supporting member Tuesday Ryan Heart of Confluence Unlimited via the Add-to-Blog form.

Join us in Chicago, Sept 30-Oct 2 for an Art of Hosting on developing strategy and methods for designing and hosting meaningful engagement. The tools and know how for meaningful and productive engagement are now available in the fields of dialogue, social media and design. The combination of these disciplines and tools enable us to genuinely integrate those who are most affected in the design and delivery of services, systems, strategies, products, plans, infrastructure and more.

AoH-logo

Learn how other communities ignite civic engagement and create meaningful stakeholder and public dialogue on tough issues. Find more effective ways to engage people in shaping the future that affects them.

Come if you want to …..

  • Practice using and hosting a set of simple, yet powerful conversational process for thinking together, such as Circle, Appreciative Inquiry, World Cafe, Open Space and Pro-action Cafe.
  • Explore how to build relationships of trust and reconsider the meaning and uses of power
  • Enhance your design and facilitation skills
  • Move beyond ‘planning a meeting’ to developing multi-step engagement processes, including diverse methods to effectively capture and use community input.
  • Hear and share success stories and put learning to work on real life concerns.

For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/k573u78. For inquiries, contact Lina Cramer, Wisdom Exchange, at 847-530-6779 or lina.c.cramer@gmail.com.

You can learn more about the Art of Hosting at www.artofhosting.org.

Submissions welcome for the National Collegiate Dialogue on Race Relations

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This post was submitted by Janice Ellis of USAonRace.com, an NCDD organizational member. Please send all articles, position statements, well-framed questions, papers, or video lectures to Janice at jellis@usaonrace.com.

On Monday, September 16, 2013, USAonRace.com will continue the National Collegiate Dialogue on Race Relations (NCDRR). This will be our fourth consecutive year of hosting the dialogue on race relations, which is very much needed. There are racially- motivated incidents occurring on a daily basis across America and around the world.

NCDRR provides an excellent opportunity for students and professors to actively participate in a healthy and meaningful exchange of ideas about this important issue that continues to pose major challenges in contemporary society.

I am inviting fellow NCDD members to submit a paper, position statement, or a previously published article for use as a discussion topic in the “Conversation Of The Week,” or “Issue Of The Week.”

The submissions can be in the form of a well-framed position statement, research paper or article, thought-provoking question, or video lecture.

Suggested areas for submissions for the 2013 session include:

  • President Barack Obama – What has been the impact on race relations?
  • Education – achievement gap/disparities, opportunities, trends across racial/ethnic groups
  • Sociology – stereotypes and social norms, intergenerational issues regarding perceptions about race and ethnicity
  • Work Place – how race plays in job placement, career growth, wealth accumulation, etc.
  • Community – physical, cultural, traditional lines of demarcation, housing, home ownership
  • Family Values – the ever changing roles, and traditions, as well as the short-term/long-term impact
  • Politics – the potential influence of the ‘Changing Face of America”; by 2050, America will be a nation of minorities. What are the implications?

We will be most pleased to receive your submissions. You can visit the National Collegiate Dialogue at
www.usaonrace.com/department/national-collegiate-dialogue to review previous submissions.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at jellis@usaonrace.com or call me at 877-931-2201.

Design dialogue, facilitate on your feet: Public Conversations’ Fall 2013 Trainings

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Facilitate your meetings through the rough spots. Engage conflict constructively in your community or organization. Gain the skills and tools you need with one of the Public Conversations Project’s upcoming trainings.

Discounts for early bird registrants, NCDD members, and folks who bring a friend. Continuing Education credits available through NBCC and MAMFT.

Facilitating with Purpose and Poise—Even When Things Get Hot
October 8-9, 2013, Watertown, MA

Anyone who leads meetings can be thrown off balance when difficult moments arise. The difficulty might be an unexpected tense moment among group members, or it may come in the form of a challenge to your legitimacy. In either case, you can learn to prevent an intense “deer in the headlight” moment and instead act calmly and intentionally.

Whether you’re a civic or religious leader, trainer, committee chair, organizer, manager, or facilitator of any kind, you will benefit from a conceptual framework for thinking on your feet and the opportunity to apply that framework as you practice “staying grounded.” This highly interactive training provides both. Learn more and register.

Regular Fee: $300
Bring-a-friend discount (20% off each): $240
Early Bird Special (ends September 1): $250
NCDD dues-paying members & NAFCM members (15% off): $255

Please register by September 22.

The Power of Dialogue: Constructive Conversations on Divisive Issues
November 7-9, 2013, Watertown, MA

Do you work with groups challenged by deep differences? Do you need new ways to help them engage? Develop your dialogue design and facilitation skills with The Power of Dialogue. Our signature training offers a deep exploration of Reflective Structured Dialogue, an intentional communication process for reducing threat and fostering mutual understanding across lines of deep difference. Through immersion in an intensive case simulation, participants will learn about the dynamics of polarization and conflict, and explore modes of communication that increase understanding, re-humanize opponents and shift relationships. Learn more and register.

Regular fee: $450-700 (sliding scale)
Bring-a-friend discount (20% off each): $360
Early Bird Special (ends September 29): $375
NCDD dues-paying members & NAFCM members (15% off): $382

Please register by October 20.

Questions? Contact Amy at 617-923-1216 x27 or training@publicconversations.org. We hope to see you there!

Posted by Chloe Kanas of the Public Conversations Project via the Add-to-Blog form at www.ncdd.org/submit.

Stakeholder Mapping for Collaboration – A tool for inclusiveness & diversity

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This post was submitted by NCDD member Michelle Miller of MMBD Consulting via the Add-to-Blog form at www.ncdd.org/submit.

When mapping stakeholders for various initiatives, I found that existing stakeholder maps do not help identify all of the voices in a system – they do not help me as a facilitator in my quest to create the diversity and inclusiveness I need for an initiative. They do not help ensure that the whole system is represented and, even worse, they often use the language of control. As most facilitators know from experience, you cannot control stakeholders. Levels of control can vary, but control in general is anathema to collaboration. We need a fit-for-purpose stakeholder mapping tool that helps foster collaboration.

The stakeholder map for collaboration is based on three main ideas:

1) We can identify the stakeholders of a system by the questions they help us answer about an initiative.

  • Why are we doing this?
  • What are we doing?
  • How will we do it?
  • What’s possible?
  • What’s going on in reality?

2) Using a traditional symbol of the whole system, a circle, we indicate the (permeable) boundaries of a system

3) These questions create a set of “Voices” which categorize perspectives by their role in regards to an initiative:

  • Voice of Intent
  • Voice of Customer/User (or Citizen)
  • Voice of Experience
  • Voice of Design

Read the blog for the basic idea: http://bit.ly/17NFXWb

For full detail, read the paper presented at the 2013 ISPIM Conference in Helsinki: http://bit.ly/19tq51P

StakeholderMap

The Importance of Conversation (reflections from Katy Byrne)

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This reflective piece was submitted by NCDD member Katy Byrne, MFT Psychotherapist, columnist, radio host, and public speaker, via the Add-to-Blog form at www.ncdd.org/submit.

We, the people, can create a new world, but not separately. We need community to heal, to be heard in safety and courage no matter what the circumstances.

It’s not easy to listen well or respectfully or to speak up. I ask myself “Should I bring it up?” or I wonder if what I have to say might be too hurtful. Sometimes I go home wondering what was really said, what did they mean, what I could have clarified or what was I thinking by saying what I said?

There are many reasons not to speak up but knowing our true intention and stating it helps clarify that. And many of us already know that it is also very helpful to make “I” statements so as not to blame and to state your needs. I know I have talked about all of this in my book, “The Courage To Speak Up, Getting Your Hairballs Out” (found at my website, www.conversationswithkaty.com) already, but I can’t help drawing a synopsis. In other words constructive conversations could change the world.

Speaking up can occur in tiny moments each day, in thick spaces of tension when we know what is not being said, but we brave saying it, or in larger arenas when we take a deep breath and stand up for what we believe it.

No one wants to go to jail for speaking, lose a marriage, a friendship, or a job. So, what to do? We need to talk to each other more than ever before. Conversation needs to be valued. We might find answers to big questions if we hung in there together, without the constant use of machines and technology. In large groupings or small, in neighborhoods, within the United Nations and everywhere, hairballs for days! The big world ball depends on us.

But the fear of sharing is real. Shame lurks close by when I speak up. One night, out with friends, I mentioned the name of a book I was reading and was corrected abruptly. I mispronounced the title. I was quiet for the rest of the evening, wrestling with my inner “bun lady “(the critic.) “Did I sound silly? Was I too loud? Was my excitement out of place?”

Sometimes we’re resentful, paranoid or confused. Recently with an old acquaintance, I blurted out; “I’d like to clear up our misunderstandings.” That’s all it took. In that one moment, we opened a new relationship and grew closer again. Inside, I heard” don’t rock the boat.” But, I carried my hairball down the field, taking a deep breath and it paid off.

Often, we put up walls when we are afraid to talk to one another .The national defense is not different than our own armor. Isn’t it time to drop it and do something else? Yes, there are times to say “no” and step out of harmful situations, but we also have to learn as a species to dialogue in conflict. If we are going to change a world that is full of huge hairballs, can we be pro-active?

Here’s where the personal becomes political. If we don’t learn to deal with our differences daily and speak up for our values, will we have the power and strength to talk and listen to each other about global issues?

Some say conversation is not enough. The problems are too big. Or, you could argue that talking isn’t going anywhere, we have to “do “something. Yes, we do. But, I believe that moving forwards with vision emerges from deep dialogue. What we have not done, collectively, is come together and put our cards on the table. It is only out of brainstorming and sharing that we unify. Safety is built from the ground up, as we speak “our peace.”

The very fabric of our society is fragmented now. Isolation is predominant. This is the time to value connection – we need each other more than ever before.

I often think about the way ants carry a bread crumb up a hill. (Odd that insects work together better than we, the people.) Couldn’t more conversations produce new systems, new ways of being, create a world for the common good?

Please, let’s all keep speaking up for the voiceless ones, the earth, the animals and children who need our words to protect them and provide for a future.

It is my contention that conversation can change the world.

Bullying: What is it? How do we prevent it?

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This issue guide was created by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life in 2012 for Alabama Issues Forums that took place in 2012 and 2013. The issue guide provides a brief overview of the bullying issue and outlines three approaches to addressing this public issue.

Bullying-coverThe David Mathews Center—a non-profit, non-partisan, non-advocacy organization—does not advocate a particular solution to the bullying issue, but rather seeks to provide a framework for citizens to carefully examine multiple approaches, weigh costs and consequences, and work through tensions and tradeoffs among different courses of action.

The issue guide’s introductory essay, authored by Dr. Cynthia Reed of Auburn University’s Truman Pierce Institute, outlines the impact the bullying issue has on Alabama and the nation:

“Although bullying is often thought of as only a school-related problem, in reality it affects us all. Bullies can be students, parents, teachers, administrators, work colleagues, or others in the community. Likewise, bullying can occur at school, at work, at church, or at other community functions… Today, most states have legislation requiring schools to address bullying. Yet bullying remains prevalent in our schools, workplaces, and communities.”

The issue guide outlines three possible approaches to addressing the issue:

Approach One: “Get Tough on Bullying”
Reports of bullying incidents are reaching epidemic proportions. Bullying is unacceptable. It must be treated with zero tolerance. Increased reports of bullying in our schools demand that schools, principals, and school districts do more to help prevent and provide tougher consequences for bullying. We must ensure that district anti-harassment policies and student codes of conduct in Alabama are strictly enforced.

Approach Two: “Equip Students to Address Bullying”
Students need practical knowledge and skills to react to and report bullying. Not every young person understands what constitutes bullying and how to respond to it. Many feel powerless as victims and/or bystanders. Many bullies do not understand the effects of their actions. The lines between victims and bullies often become blurred when circumstances change and/or victims retaliate. The bullied may be charged as bullies if they retaliate. We should concentrate our efforts on educating students about bullying and how to respond to it. We should create supportive, enriching school cultures that equip young people to address the root causes of bullying.

Approach Three: “Engage the Community and Parents in Bullying Solutions”
Bullying is a widespread behavior. It is not limited to schools. Parents and the community should accept more responsibility for talking about and preventing bullying. The cost is too high for the community if bullying is not addressed. Bullies take up school time and police time. Bullies can end up convicted of crimes when they reach adulthood. Teachers and administrators do not have the time, personnel, and resources to eradicate all bullying. They cannot address its complex root causes outside the school environment. We, individually and through our community organizations, must communicate to young people that bullying is unacceptable. A great amount of bullying and violent behavior begins in the home. We must reach out to parents. We must reach out to young people. Some young people do not have supportive home environments and need community help.

More About DMC Issue Guides…

David Mathews Center issue guides are named and framed by Alabama citizens for Alabama Issues Forums (AIF) during a biennial “Citizens’ Congress” and follow-up workshops. Alabama Issues Forums is a David Mathews Center signature program designed to bring Alabama citizens together to deliberate and take community action on an issue of public concern. Digital copies of all AIF issue guides, and accompanying post-forum questionnaires, are available for free download at www.mathewscenter.org/resources.

For further information about the Mathews Center, Alabama Issues Forums, or this publication, visit www.mathewscenter.org.

Resource Link: www.mathewscenter.org//wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Bully-Brochure_press_PMS.pdf

This resource was submitted by Cristin Foster of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life via our Add-a-Resource form.

Dropouts: What Should We Do?

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This issue guide was created by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life in 2010 for Alabama Issues Forums that took place in 2010 and 2011. Dropouts: What Should We Do? provides a brief overview of the dropout issue and outlines three approaches to addressing this public issue.

Dropouts-coverThe David Mathews Center—a non-profit, non-partisan, non-advocacy organization—does not advocate a particular solution to the dropout issue, but rather seeks to provide a framework for citizens to carefully examine multiple approaches, weigh costs and consequences, and work through tensions and tradeoffs among different courses of action.

The issue guide’s introductory essay, provided by the Alabama State Department of Education, outlines the impact of the dropout issue on Alabama and the nation:

Every 26 seconds a student drops out of school.

The dropout crisis is one of the greatest threats to the United States. The students that leave our education systems without a diploma create an economic, social and generational crisis for the entire nation. Every state and its students are impacted by dropouts, who create deficits in the educational wealth and financial stability of the population.

The issue guide outlines three possible approaches to addressing the issue:

Approach One: “Emphasize Achievement”
Dropouts from our K-12 schools are regrettable, but our primary focus should be on emphasizing achievement, initiative, discipline, and creativity among those who choose to stay in school. These characteristics are best promoted through competition and recognition of success in that competition. These are characteristics we want in our work force. These are characteristics we need to be successful in individual life, community vitality, and global competiveness. We need our best young people to be all they can be.

Approach Two: “Emphasize Preventative and Corrective School Programs”
Social costs are too high if we do not address dropout prevention and correction. Dropouts don’t always simply lack individual initiative, discipline, and perseverance. Some young people come from poor family backgrounds and lack support for learning outside the school environment. Others get behind early in reading ability and lack positive role models. Some students have understandings and skills that are not easily quantified and measured, and they give up competing in situations that are beyond what they see as leading to productive lives. Some have family situations that require their primary attention, including those who serve as the primary wage earner for the household. We need solutions that take into account students backgrounds and situations.

Approach Three: “Emphasize Community Responsibility”
Ideally schools might emphasize both achievement and prevention, but some problems are beyond the resources and capacities of schools to address. Some young people need more help than they can get during school hours. Communities should think broadly and creatively about their overall educational resources, not just their schools. Moreover, some young people have substance abuse problems and/or such rebellious behavior that they cannot be kept in schools. Yet, if they do not receive constructive attention, they may become even worse problems.

More About DMC Issue Guides…

David Mathews Center issue guides are named and framed by Alabama citizens for Alabama Issues Forums (AIF) during a biennial “Citizens’ Congress” and follow-up workshops. Alabama Issues Forums is a David Mathews Center signature program designed to bring Alabama citizens together to deliberate and take community action on an issue of public concern. All AIF issue guides, and accompanying post-forum questionnaires, are available for free download at www.mathewscenter.org/resources.

For further information about the Mathews Center, Alabama Issues Forums, or this publication, visit www.mathewscenter.org.

Resource Link: www.mathewscenter.org//wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Issues-Brief_web.pdf

This resource was submitted by Cristin Foster of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life via our Add-a-Resource form.

International Journal of Collaborative Practices

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The International Journal of Collaborative Practices brings together members of a growing international community of practitioners, scholars, educators, researchers, and consultants interested in postmodern collaborative practices.

This community responds to important questions in social and human sciences such as:

  1. How can we make our theories and practices have every day relevance and how can our ordinary experiences have relevance for our theories and practices, for as many people as possible in our fast changing world?
  2. What will this relevance accomplish?
  3. And who determines it?

Globalization and technology are spawning social, cultural, political, and economic transformations in our shrinking and interdependent world. People everywhere are constantly exposed to real time events in the world and enlightened through television and the Internet. They are fast losing faith in the rigid institutions that treat them as numbers and ignore their humanity. People expect to be directly involved in whatever affects their lives and they demand flexible systems and services that honor their rights and respect their needs.

Faced with such local, societal and global shifts, with the unavoidable complexities they engender, and with their effect on our lives and our world, practitioners are wondering how best to respond. The Journal is designed to serve as one part of a timely and valuable response by spotlighting important interconnected issues such as:

  1. The juxtaposition of democracy, social justice, and human rights;
  2. The importance of people’s voices locally and globally; and
  3. The fundamental need for professional collaboration.

The journal is published once a year, with new issues coming out in the Spring. Sponsored by the Houston Galveston Institute, the Taos Institute, and the Psychology Department at Our Lady of the Lake University, it is an open-access on-line publication that is offered in the spirit of promoting community and collaboration. You can subscribe by emailing journal@talkhgi.com.

As of August 2013, the Journal is on Issue 4.  Harlene Anderson, Ph.D. and Saliha Bava, Ph.D. are the editors. The Journal is an open access on-line bilingual (English and Spanish) interactive publication. Your participation is invited through the submission of articles and your responses through the Journal blog.

Resource Link: www.collaborative-practices.com