[Ailist] [NCDD-UPDATES] news and opportunities in dialogue & deliberation

Thu Jul 30 12:50:48 MDT 2009

(You can view the web version of this email at: 
http://www.ncdd.org/updates/july_2009.html )

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HI, EVERYONE!  Hope the summer is treating you well.  Here is some of the latest news 
from NCDD and the dialogue & deliberation community...

OBAMA, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THE D&D COMMUNITY: AN (EXTRAORDINARY) HALF-
YEAR IN REVIEW    

With the transition to a new presidential administration that focused its campaign on 
getting people involved in government, 2009 has been a whirlwind year of unprecedented 
opportunity and possibility for the dialogue and deliberation community and all those 
working in public engagement.

I recently spent some time writing up a summary of all of this year's goings-ons related 
to Obama, Public Engagement and the D&D Community.  It covers Obama's open 
government memo and subsequent happenings, the creation of the Public Engagement 
Principles, the Office of Public Engagement, the Champions of Participation meetings, the 
Agenda for Strengthening our Nation's Democracy, and the current Democracy 
Communications Network topic (which I invite you all to get involved with!). It includes 
dates, links to press releases, etc., so I think it's a great reference as well as a great 
reminder of all that's happened so far this year. Posted on the NCDD blog at 
www.thataway.org/?p=1492

NOT TOO LATE TO ENDORSE THE CORE PRINCIPLES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

This spring, NCDD, IAP2 and the Co-Intelligence Institute led a dynamic, collaborative 
online process aimed at developing a set of Core Principles for Public Engagement that 
most people and organizations in this field can support.  Many dozens of practitioners and 
leading organizations contributed to the creation of the Core Principles -- and many more 
endorsed the Principles in an extraordinary show of support.  Visit www.thataway.org/pep 
to see the growing list of organizational and individuals endorsers and to see the Core 
Principles.  And let me know if we should add your name or your organization's name to 
our exceptional list of endorsements!

NEW FRAMEWORK ON GOALS AND IMPACTS OF DIALOGUE & DELIBERATION

Public Agenda just released four great new publications, downloadable free from 
www.publicagenda.org/cape.  I was particularly struck by the publication by (NCDD 
member) Martin Carcasson:  Beginning with the End in Mind: A Call for Goal-Driven 
Deliberative Practice, which offers a practical framework to help practitioners 
systematically consider both their short-term and long-term goals and the strategies that 
will set them up for success.

I was inspired by Martin's work to create a graphic that expands on the "Goals of 
Deliberation" figure in his paper slightly (with his blessing and involvement) to include 
dialogue work that focuses on relationship building and conflict resolution.  View it at 
www.thataway.org/main/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ddgoals_graphic_full.jpg if you're 
interested.  I also just added a post to the blog with more explanation, which is at 
www.thataway.org/?p=1571

I think the goals framework has the potential to create some much-needed clarity about 
the work we're all doing, and why we're doing it.  It's basically a  powerfully simple 
articulation of a theory of change for this work, and I think we can/should all consider 
embracing it.  Please add comments to my blog post about the framework and let me 
know what you think!

CSC GRANTS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA    

NCDD member Pete Peterson wants to make sure those of you in CA know about this 
one.... Common Sense California just announced the re-launch of its unique citizen 
engagement grant program for 2009, offering thousands of dollars to California 
municipalities, school districts and non-profits in support of their efforts to involve 
residents in local policy-making. Grants will range from $1,000 to $7,500. More at 
www.thataway.org/?p=1478

HUFFINGTON POST ARTICLE ON PRO-LIFE AND PRO-CHOICE DIALOGUE

"Pro-Life and Pro-Choice Can Work Together," a piece by Public Conversations Project 
Associate Mary Jacksteit shares two examples of pro-choice and pro-life activists using 
dialogue to defuse tension and reduce violence. Our friends at the Public Conversations 
Project (an NCDD organizational member) ask that you read the story, add a comment to 
the post, and send this link out to your family, friends and colleagues:  
www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-jacksteit/the-buffalo-case-pro-life_b_215067.html

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2009 CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON DIALOGUE & DELIBERATION

Our sister organization, the Canadian Community for Dialogue & Deliberation, is holding 
its third national conference this fall. C2D2 2009 will take place October 22-25 in Toronto, 
Ontario, and early registration ends on July 31st. Registration is currently $393.75 CAD 
with taxes, and the rate will increase $100 CAD beginning in August.

Proposals are due July 31st for concurrent sessions, field visits, marketplace showcases, 
and night-cap dialogues. Proposals should fall under four broad areas: leading change, 
conversations, stronger communities, and healthier democracies. Youth are especially 
encouraged to share the innovative and impactful work they’re doing.  More at 
www.c2d2.ca/conference2009

NCDD DISCOUNT FOR IAP2 2009: MAKING SUSTAINABLE DECISIONS

The International Association for Public Participation's annual conference is taking place in 
San Diego, CA this September 21-23.  NCDD is an official "Partner" of the conference, 
and dues-paying members of NCDD save $100 on the registration fee; just be sure to 
enter the code NCDD on the online registration form!  To register or learn more, go to 
www.iap2.org.

I am co-presenting the morning-long plenary session on the last day of the conference, 
with my friends Myriam Laberge and Brenda Chaddock of the Masterful Facilitation 
Institute.  This practitioner keynote and plenary session, titled "Dare to Dream! Exploring 
a New Era of Public Engagement," will explore one of our field's most pressing 
challenges: how do we make public engagement more integral to our systems?

We are also holding an informal networking meeting for NCDD members before the Core 
Values Awards gala on the evening of Monday, September 21st.  Let me know if you will 
be there!  (Email me at sandy at thataway.org.)

NCDD DISCOUNT FOR ENGAGING THE OTHER CONFERENCE

The 4th Annual Engaging the Other Conference will take place November 12-15 in San 
Francisco, California. NCDD is co-sponsoring the conference along with the Common Bond 
Institute and International Humanistic Psychology Association.  The conference is 
international, multidisciplinary, and multicultural, examining concepts of "The OTHER" 
from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue about 
images of "Us and Them." 

Dues-paying NCDD members pay $290 rather than $350 for the early rate. More at 
www.cbiworld.org/Pages/Conferences_ETO.htm

NEW PACE REPORT ON HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS REINVENTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) has released a great new report called 
"The New Laboratories of Democracy:  How Local Government is Reinventing Civic 
Engagement."  Mike McGrath from the National Civic League authored the report, which 
can be downloaded from the PACE website at 
http://pacefunders.org/publications/NewLaboratoriesofDemocracy.pdf

The PACE report details the innovative methods local governments around the country are 
using to increase civic engagement by the public. "Local governments are at the cutting 
edge of finding new tools and methods to increase civic engagement in this country. We 
hope this report will stimulate new thinking within the philanthropic community, as well 
as in local governments around the country, and help spread the word about these new 
and successful approaches," said Chris Gates, Executive Director of PACE.

DISCOUNTS ON TOP-NOTCH TRAININGS FOR PAID NCDD MEMBERS

NCDD members who pay the full membership fee (only $50 for individuals or $100 for 
orgs!) can take advantage of discounted rates for dozens of upcoming trainings offered by 
our partners. Many of the discounts save you hundreds of dollars. Go to 
www.thataway.org/discounts for more details on the trainings listed below. Or go to 
www.thataway.org/join to become one of our paid members and benefit from these great 
discounts!

   1. Alchemy Graphic Recording Classes
   2. Bay Area Nonviolent Communication's Living Peace Intensive Residential Retreats
   3. Breakthroughs UNLIMITED Trainings
   4. The Center for Strategic Facilitation Trainings
   5. Center for Wise Democracy's Dynamic Facilitation trainings
   6. Certificate Program in Dialogue, Deliberation & Public Engagement
   7. The Collaboration Imperative: Large Group Design Skills for Leaders and Consultants
   8. Community at Work's Group Facilitation Skills Training
   9. Dalar International Consultancy Workshops
  10. Dialogue Partners Trainings
  11. Future Search Workshops
  12. Harwood Public Innovators Lab
  13. IAP2 Certificate Course in Public Participation
  14. Integral Visions Consulting Workshops
  15. Leadership Strategies' The Effective Facilitator Course
  16. National Charrette Institute Trainings and Certificates
  17. PublicDecisions.com Online Trainings
  18. Public Conversations Project Trainings

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As always, email me at sandy at thataway.org with announcements for the blog or to 
inquire about partnership opportunities.

Good luck with all you are doing!

Best,
Sandy

Sandy Heierbacher
Director, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD)

Web: www.thataway.org
Email: sandy at thataway.org

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