About NCDD’s Events
NCDD conferences bring together hundreds of the most active, thoughtful, and influential people involved in public engagement and group process work across the U.S. and Canada (and even some from outside North America!).
Our high-energy events provide people who are committed to helping dialogue and deliberation flourish in the world with the opportunity to increase their skills and knowledge in these processes, share their own learnings and innovations with others, and develop supportive, collaborative relationships with their peers. |
Perhaps most importantly, NCDD conferences leave them feeling more motivated, energized, supported and prepared to do this vital work.
Practitioners, scholars, public leaders, funders, trainers, artists, activists and students come together from across this critically important field at our conferences. Over 3,000 people, from 21 countries, have attended our national and regional conferences since 2002, and we hope you joined us at the 2018 National Conference.
Practitioners, scholars, public leaders, funders, trainers, artists, activists and students come together from across this critically important field at our conferences. Over 3,000 people, from 21 countries, have attended our national and regional conferences since 2002, and we hope you joined us at the 2018 National Conference.
Why Do People Love NCDD Events?
NCDD conferences are known for being innovative and highly participatory. We focus on providing participants with opportunities to network with colleagues, experience innovative group methods, and explore key challenges in our field together.
NCDD gatherings are not your run-of-the-mill conferences. Instead of parading endless speakers in front of you in the hope that you will absorb some of their knowledge, we acknowledge and tap into every participant’s expertise and unique perspectives, and ask them to play an active role in shaping the future of this burgeoning field.
Here is what Dave Joseph, Director of Project Development at the Public Conversations Project, wrote to us after he attended one of our national conferences:
NCDD gatherings are not your run-of-the-mill conferences. Instead of parading endless speakers in front of you in the hope that you will absorb some of their knowledge, we acknowledge and tap into every participant’s expertise and unique perspectives, and ask them to play an active role in shaping the future of this burgeoning field.
Here is what Dave Joseph, Director of Project Development at the Public Conversations Project, wrote to us after he attended one of our national conferences:
“I have gone to many, many, many conferences, workshops etc. over the past 30 years. NCDD was by far the best conference I have ever attended. It was 100% isomorphic and congruent with our practices, with a focus on developing a sense of relationship, connection and community.
The activities all contributed to making it extremely easy for participants to get to know each other by focusing on shared purposes, interests and goals. Plus, you had a wonderful mix of people, of course. The structure really contributed greatly to getting to meet a large number of very diverse people and have fun doing it.” |
And Avril Orloff, Project Manager for Canada’s Philia Dialogue on Caring Citizenship, had these kind words for us:
I’m still coming back to earth after the amazing NCDD conference! It was packed so full of wonderful information, ideas, resources and people that I came away utterly inspired and energized.
What a monumental effort – and what tremendous results! Thank you for every minute…. You’ve created something that’s going to leave a big legacy, and whose effects will just keep rippling further and further out into the world. To say nothing of a great community of practice – one that I’m honoured to associate myself with.
To get a good sense of what happens at an NCDD conference, also check out:
- Check out our conference guidebook from NCDD Denver in 2018
- Videos of our plenary sessions from NCDD Boston in 2016
- Quotes and feedback from our amazing attendees at NCDD Seattle in 2012
- Our report to the Kettering Foundation based on NCDD Austin proceedings and attendee interviews
- The Story of the National Conferences on Dialogue & Deliberation
- The page overviewing the amazing variety of Arts at Our Events
- Dig into our previous national conferences in 2002 (DC area), 2004 (Denver), 2006 (San Francisco), 2008 (Austin), 2012 (Seattle), 2014 (DC area), 2016 (Boston area), and 2018 (Denver)!