Building Democracy Through Dialogue: Inside the 2026 Collaborative Discussion Project

​The Interactivity Foundation has selected 11 fellows for its 2026 Collaborative Discussion Project, bringing together educators, civic practitioners, and researchers from diverse institutions to strengthen democratic engagement through structured dialogue. The cohort advances the practice of collaborative intelligence, which emphasizes building on the strongest elements of differing perspectives rather than engaging in adversarial debate. Fellows are developing and refining practical tools, training programs, and accessible resources that help communities address complex public issues with curiosity, openness, and respect. By translating academic research into real-world civic applications—such as facilitation trainings, webinars, and community conversation frameworks—the fellowship strengthens the infrastructure for democratic discourse, aligning its work with the nation’s 250th anniversary and prioritizing equitable access to dialogue resources.

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The Interactivity Foundation has assembled a distinguished cohort of 11 fellows for its 2026 Collaborative Discussion Project, bringing together educators, civic practitioners, and researchers committed to strengthening democratic engagement through structured dialogue. These fellows represent institutions ranging from Colorado State University and MIT to James Madison University and Providence College, forming a network of expertise that spans communication studies, public policy, social work, and civic leadership. Their collective mission centers on advancing collaborative intelligence—a practice that moves beyond traditional debate by encouraging participants to identify and build upon the strongest elements of diverse perspectives to create shared understanding.

The fellowship focuses on developing and refining tools that enable communities to engage meaningfully with complex public issues. Fellows are working to enhance the Collaborative Discussion Project Toolkit, create accessible training programs, and expand the reach of structured dialogue practices into new communities. This approach emphasizes the learner mindset, where participants enter discussions with curiosity and openness rather than predetermined conclusions. By prioritizing additive synthesis over opposition, the model creates space for genuine exploration of challenging topics while maintaining respect across differences. The work directly addresses the need for democratic spaces where citizens can navigate disagreement constructively and develop collective solutions to shared challenges.

The 2026 fellowship represents a strategic investment in translational research—moving insights from academic study into practical application within real-world civic settings. Fellows are contributing to webinars, facilitation trainings, and community conversation frameworks that support dialogue practitioners, educators, and local organizers. Their work strengthens the infrastructure for democratic discourse at a critical moment, leveraging the nation's 250th anniversary as an opportunity to engage communities in reflection and action around democratic renewal. The Interactivity Foundation's commitment to providing free, accessible resources ensures that these dialogue tools can reach diverse communities and support equity in civic participation.
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To learn more about the 2026 Collaborative Discussion Project Fellows and access free dialogue resources, visit https://www.interactivityfoundation.org/meet-our-2026-collaborative-discussion-project-fellows/