Upcoming NCDD-NCL Joint Webinar on Social Distancing and Public Engagement

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Keiva Hummel

Wow! We are a bit blown away to announce, we have reached max capacity attendance for our upcoming webinar this week with our partner organization, the National Civic League. The webinar happening this Wednesday, April 15th at 1 PM Eastern/10 AM Pacific, will give strategies for public engagement work during this period of physical distancing due to COVID-19.

While participants are no longer being accepted, we will be recording the webinar and can send it to folks afterwards. For those who are already registered for the event, you will be receiving the recording already. If you were not able to register, please sign up via this Google form and we will send the recording to you as well.

About the webinar

The webinar will feature Wendy Willis, Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, and Larry Schooler, Director of Consensus Building and Community Engagement, CD&P. Wendy and Larry will showcase strategies for virtual public engagement in this time of social isolation.

This webinar will include information about leveraging government access television at all times, including this current time, to enhance the efforts of local government to connect with their residents and stakeholders. Presenters will also talk about differences in various forms of online engagement and when it might make sense to use them, as well as tips for turning your in-person meetings into virtual ones. Sign up here to receive the recording!

Presenters:

Wendy Willis, Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium

Wendy Willis is the Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, a global network of major organizations and leading scholars working in the field of deliberation and public engagement. Wendy is also the Founder and Director of Oregon’s Kitchen Table, a program of the National Policy Consensus Center in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University. Wendy is also a widely published poet and essayist, writing often on issues of public life.

Larry Schooler, Director of Consensus Building and Community Engagement at CD&P

After an award-winning career as a journalist across the globe, Larry Schooler became a mediator, facilitator, public engagement consultant, and educator. He works with agencies around the world to resolve disputes, build consensus and involve the public and stakeholders in decisions that will affect them. He also specializes in land use mediation, strategic planning, and visioning. Dr. Schooler has written a manual on facilitating public meetings and has a forthcoming book on involving the public in the resolution of major community issues.

Join NCDD and NCL’s Webinar on Social Distancing and Public Engagement

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Courtney Breese

NCDD is thrilled to announce a joint webinar with our partner, the National Civic League! This webinar takes place next Wednesday, April 15th at 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific. Register today to reserve your spot!

Presenters:

Wendy Willis, Executive Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium

Larry Schooler, Director of Consensus Building and Community Engagement at CD&P

Join NCDD for a Network Call about COVID-19

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Courtney Breese

With the declaration yesterday of a global pandemic, it’s clear that everyone’s way of life will be impacted. Public events are being cancelled or postponed, and people are being asked not to come together in person. Social distancing is being recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This social distancing has impacts on individuals and our communities, for certain. But it also impacts the very way in which many of us conduct our work. For the dialogue and deliberation field, the work we do happens most often in public spaces and with people face to face. In the wake of COVID-19, how can we adapt to ensure that this important work proceeds?

XS Purple NCDD logo

NCDD is convening a conference call next Thursday, March 19th at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific to allow our network to discuss this issue and share ideas for how to continue our work in ways which address the health and safety issues that currently exist. We’ll discuss how each of us are adapting our approach to the work, and consider what best practices we may want to adopt as we move forward. Everyone will be invited to share tools and resources they are utilizing. We hope this call will be a helpful opportunity for everyone to tap into our collective wisdom, and collaborate on plans to continue to assist communities in engaging and making decisions together. NCDD will compile what emerges from the call – the practices, resources, and tools that can be shared with our wider network and the public.

To join the call, which will take place via Zoom, please register here.

We are wishing you all the best.

“Democracy Rebellion” Documentary Highlights Civic Action

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Keiva Hummel

NCDD member organization National Issues Forums Institute shared on their blog an exciting new documentary, The Democracy Rebellion, produced by Pulitzer Prize winner Hedrick Smith. The documentary highlights several examples of grassroots democratic reform movements that have been happening across the US. You can read the article below and find the original version of it on the NIFI site here.

While we are on NIFI updates, we’d like to wish a huge congratulations to NCDD Board Member Betty Knighton who has become NIFI’s President! We are so grateful to have her on our Board and excited for her to also assume this new role!

In fact, Betty will be on our February Confab call in just a few hours, co-presenting with Kara Dillard and Darla Minnich on the Hidden Common Ground Initiative – a joint project of USA TODAY, Public Agenda, the Kettering Foundation, and NIFI. This free call will take place on Today, February 20th from 2-3 pm Eastern, 11 am-12 pm Pacific. Register now so you don’t miss out on this event!

Watch the PBS Documentary “The Democracy Rebellion” Produced by Hedrick Smith

Journalist Hedrick Smith is the executive producer of the recently-released PBS documentary, The Democracy Rebellion. In the 56-minute film, Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and editor, documents a number of grassroots efforts around the country that have made a difference in creating real democratic reform.

The stories told in the documentary include: exposure of dark money funding in California; a push for public funding of campaigns in Connecticut; gerrymander reform in Florida; and other examples of citizens organizing, marching, and working together for positive change.

Clips, photos, and more information about the documentary can be found on the PBS page featuring The Democracy Rebellion for viewing.

Not Washington, but grassroots America. Not stale gridlock, but fresh reforms. Not negative ads and billionaire donors, but positive change and citizen activists pressing for gerrymander reform, voting rights for former felons, limits on lobbyists, and winning surprising victories to make elections fairer and more inclusive in states as varied as Florida, California, North Carolina, South Dakota, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Utah and more.

The documentary is also available to watch on YouTube.

Find more information about democracy reform efforts around the country, and about Hedrick Smith’s work, on the Let’s Reclaim the American Dream website.

You can find this article on the National Issues Forums Institute website at www.nifi.org/en/watch-pbs-documentary-democracy-rebellion-produced-hedrick-smith.

Weds Webinar Roundup Feat NCL Today and Confab Tomo!

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Keiva Hummel

Make sure you register to join NCDD partner org National Civic League‘s webinar on Taking Climate Actions at the Local Level (at 1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern) and National Issues Forums Institute‘s webinar on Deliberative Conversation: Division in Our Country (at 5 pm Pacific, 8 pm Eastern). Tomorrow is our next NCDD Confab at 2pm Eastern on the Hidden Common Ground Initiative – register now!

Here are the upcoming D&D online events happening over the next few weeks, including NCDD sponsor org The Courageous Leadership Project, NCDD member orgs Living Room Conversations, as well as, from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and the Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice.

NCDD’s online D&D event roundup is a weekly compilation of the upcoming events happening in the digital world related to dialogue, deliberation, civic tech, engagement work, and more! Do you have a webinar or other digital event coming up that you’d like to share with the NCDD network? Please let us know in the comments section below or by emailing me at keiva[at]ncdd[dot]org, because we’d love to add it to the list!

Upcoming Online D&D Events – From NCDD

February Confab featuring the Hidden Common Ground Initiative

Confab bubble image

Thursday, February 20th
11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern

TOMORROW is the February Confab Call featuring the Hidden Common Ground Initiative, a joint project of USA TODAY, Public Agenda, the Kettering Foundation, and National Issues Forums.

Are there aspects of public issues where Americans can agree and work together to solve problems? Let’s tackle this question in Hidden Common Ground, the national election year public deliberation initiative. At the heart of the initiative are National Issues Forums in communities and online across the country about compelling public issues: health care, immigration, the economy, and divisiveness. USA TODAY will provide press coverage and commentary, Public Agenda will publish issue-based research, and Kettering Foundation will develop nonpartisan discussion guides. Since there are too few opportunities for Americans to discover their “hidden common ground,” participating in the year-long initiative is vitally important.

Please join us to learn more, to explore local partnerships and media connections, and to access free materials to use in your communities.

REGISTER: http://ncdd.org/community/confabreg-feb2020

From Our Sponsors & Partners

National Civic League AAC Promising Practices Webinar – Taking Climate Actions at the Local Level

Wednesday, February 19th
1 pm Pacific, 4 pm Eastern

TODAY! – Participants will hear from two cities that are taking on the issue of sustainability with resident-driven initiatives. The Office of Sustainability in Chula Vista, CA will discuss its Climate Action Challenge; the Sustainability Division in Lakewood, CO will discuss its sustainability plan, as well as the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program.

REGISTER: www.nationalcivicleague.org/resource-center/promising-practices/

The Courageous Leadership Project webinar – Why are these people yelling at me? Understanding outrage and opposition in the public arena

Wednesday, March 4th
9 am Pacific, 12 pm Eastern

Brave, honest conversations are how we solve the problems in our lives, organizations and communities. When we have brave, honest conversations we create connection, build trust and strengthen relationships – and when that happens, anything is possible. This webinar series covers a different topic each month – all tied to building skills, knowledge and leadership for brave, honest conversations. Some webinars are free, some have a small charge.

REGISTER: www.bravelylead.com/shop/freewebinarbhc

From Our Members

Living Room Conversations online – click here

Race and Ethnicity: A Special Three-Part Series – (1st one has passed) Fridays, Feb 21 & Feb 28th
Fake News – Thurs, Feb 27th
Mental Health – Sun, March 1st
Lunch Hour: Technology and Relationships – Tues, March 3rd
Weave the Social Fabric – Weds, March 4th
The America We Want to Be – Weds, March 4th
Parenting: Protecting and Empowering Children – Weds, March 11th

National Issues Forums Institute webinars – click here

Deliberative Conversation: Division in Our Country
- Weds, Feb 19th
- Tues, Feb 25th
Hidden Common Ground Initiative: Health Care: How Can We Bring Costs Down While Getting the Care We Need? – Fri, March 13th

From the Network

International Association for Facilitators – click here

Becoming a CPF with the IAF – Fri, Feb 21st
IAF Methods Library Webinar – Fri, Feb 28th

Zehr Institute for Restorative Justice – click here

Building Mutual Understanding Between Community and Police – Weds, Feb 19th

Announcing February Confab feat. Hidden Common Ground

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Courtney Breese

We are excited to announce the February Confab Call, which features the Hidden Common Ground initiative. This free call takes place Thursday, February 20th from 2-3 pm Eastern/11 am-12 pm Pacific. Register today to secure your spot.

Hidden Common Ground is a joint project of USA TODAY, Public Agenda, the Kettering Foundation, and National Issues Forums.

Please join us to learn more, to explore local partnerships and media connections, and to access free materials to use in your communities.

Presenters for this Confab Call include:

Betty Knighton, President, National Issues Forums Institute; Senior Associate, Kettering Foundation

Kara Dillard, CGA Operations, National Issues Forums Institute; Assistant Professor, James Madison University School of Communication Studies

Darla Minnich, CAO, National Issues Forums Institute

This free call will take place on Thursday, February 20th from 2-3 pm Eastern, 11 am-12 pm Pacific. Register today so you don’t miss out on this event!

About NCDD’s Confab Calls

NCDD’s Confab Calls are opportunities for members (and potential members) of NCDD to talk with and hear from innovators in our field about the work they’re doing and to connect with fellow members around shared interests. Membership in NCDD is encouraged but not required for participation. Confabs are free and open to all. Register today if you’d like to join us!

Summer Peacebuilding Institute Scholarship Deadline: 1/31

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Keiva Hummel

Our friends at the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) sent out a reminder yesterday via their newsletter that SPI 2020 scholarship deadlines are quickly approaching on January 31st! This phenomenal program offered by NCDD member org, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University, is an opportunity to learn from leaders in the D&D field about conflict transformation, restorative justice, and more. Courses can be taken to improve your skills or for academic credit (and they now offer an M.A. in Restorative Justice program). Read more in the post below and on the Summer Peacebuilding Institute site here.

Summer Peacebuilding Institute – Dedicated Scholarship deadline January 31, 2020

Gain the Skills You Need Personally and Professionally

To build a more peaceful and just world, we need to work effectively at community and local/regional levels in every country, starting with our own. SPI 2020 training courses offer the skills you need personally and professionally to make this happen. Join us for an exciting time of shared learning across national boundaries. All courses are offered for training or academic credit.

This year we are offering a wide variety of courses on topics including, but not limited to:

Trauma awareness
Leadership
Social media and violent extremism
Transforming harmful community spaces through collaboration
Racial healing and challenging systemic racism
Restorative justice
Circle processes
Building personal and organizational resilience
Designing facilitated processes
Using media and the arts for peacebuilding and security

Click here for more information on all courses at SPI 2020, instructor bios, costs, and information about our annual Community Day event on February 14, 2020, that creates a one-day, SPI in miniature.

Scholarships and Fellowship Opportunities
We know that personal and organizational budgets are sometimes stretched tight and many of you may have difficulty fully financing your time at SPI. We have several scholarships and a fellowship to help those with need. Many of our scholarships do not have a deadline, but the deadline for our dedicated scholarships and our fellowship is January 31, 2020. Scroll down or click here for more information on scholarship and fellowship possibilities.

Still not sure if you should attend the Summer Peacebuilding Institute?

Click here to watch a short video of SPI participants, faculty, and staff talking about “the magic of SPI”.

Click here to apply online for SPI 2020 (Note, you must complete the application before you can apply for a scholarship).

Scholarships and Fellowships

Several varieties of scholarships and a fellowship are available to help individuals and organizations with tight budgets. Apply early as our scholarship pool is limited. See information below for requirements for individual scholarships or click here for information about all scholarships and fellowships.

The deadline for the dedicated scholarships and the Winston Fellowship is January 31, 2020 (Please note that there is no deadline for the matching or partial scholarships or the organization mini grant. These are given out until the funds are exhausted).

Dedicated Scholarships
SPI receives some donations with defined parameters for distribution. The qualifications for each scholarship differ, as does what is covered. Click here for information on all dedicated scholarships. The deadline for applying is January 31, 2020.

Winston Fellowship
All-inclusive fellowship covering international airfare, lodging, and participation in three training courses. Intended to train individuals new to the fields of peacebuilding, justice, or trauma work. Requires a post-SPI internship with an organization in your local community. Click here for more information. The deadline for applying is January 31, 2020.

Matching Scholarships
Covers fees for an additional session of SPI if participants are able to pay for at least one session and any transportation costs. Offered on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. Click here for information.

Partial Scholarships
Up to $500 toward training fees if participants are able to pay all other fees for at least one session. Offered on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. Click here for information.

Organization Mini-Grant
Discount of 1/3 of the training fees for organizations that send three or more people to SPI. E-mail the SPI office by clicking here for information.

Email spi@emu.edu for more information on these scholarships.

You can find the information on the Summer Peacebuilding Institute website at www.emu.edu/cjp/spi/.

Dynamic Line-Up of D&D Webinars – Happening TODAY!

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Keiva Hummel

Today has an exciting line-up of D&D webinars that we strongly encourage folks to sign up for ASAP! FOUR great webinars starting with NCDD sponsor org The Courageous Leadership Project and their “Brave, Honest Conversations” webinar at 9 am Pacific, 12 pm Eastern. There are two webinars after that at 11 am Pacific, 2 pm Eastern, one from NCDD member org National Civic League webinar on “Collaborations to Address Mental Health” and the other from NCDD member org MetroQuest, “How SCDOT Engaged 13,000+ Residents on a Tiny Budget”. Last though certainly not least, Zehr Institute‘s “Beyond Circles and Conferences: Everyday Restorative Justice Practices in PK-12” at 1:30 pm Pacific, 4:30 pm Eastern.

Additional upcoming D&D online events from NCDD member orgs National Issues Forums Institute and Living Room Conversations, as well as, from the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), and Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.