On June 23, 2025, NCDD hosted an energizing webinar, Deliberation in Action: A Civic Season Call to Reimagine Democracy. Held during Civic Season—the stretch between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July—this timely session brought together field leaders working to revitalize democracy through deliberative engagement and citizen empowerment.

Co-presenters Roshan Bliss (NCDD), Marjan Ehsassi (FIDE – North America), Katie Fahey (The People), Christine Lopes Metcalfe (Local Policy Lab), and Rahmin Sarabi (American Public Trust) shared real-world examples of how citizens’ assemblies and other deliberative practices are driving change in places like Montrose, Colorado; California; Michigan; and beyond. Speakers explored what it means to grow civic infrastructure from the ground up, integrate deliberation into decision-making, and build trust through participatory processes that center transparency, equity, and shared power.

Panelists emphasized that deliberative democracy is not a one-time event—it’s a long-term cultural shift rooted in community relationships and ongoing collaboration. From navigating polarization and funding challenges to designing inclusive, local systems of participation, the conversation lifted up both the promise and complexity of this work. Attendees left with key insights, examples, and renewed energy to help embed deliberative values in the heart of democratic life. ​Read more lessons from the webinar and watch the recording below.

In their timely and compelling article for The Fulcrum, NCDD’s Director of Democracy Innovations, Roshan Bliss, and Assemble America’s Executive Director, Nick Coccoma, explore how citizens’ assemblies can serve as a powerful tool to prevent a democratic unraveling in the United States. As calls to rewrite the Constitution gain traction—particularly through a well-funded Article V movement on the far right—Bliss and Coccoma offer a democratic counterproposal: a “ground floor plan” for constitutional renewal rooted in deliberation, representation, and public legitimacy. This piece lays out a visionary strategy for civic actors across the country to build new democratic infrastructure, grounded in the voices and wisdom of everyday people. Their call is clear: it’s time to roll up our sleeves and rebuild the house of American democracy—before it's too late. Read the article in full below.

The National Civic League (NCL) continues to champion inclusive, equitable, and diverse democratic practices, standing firm in their values despite shifts in the political climate. Through powerful leadership and a commitment to evidence-based strategies, NCL demonstrates how true community engagement must account for the full spectrum of voices and experiences. Their work shows that fostering equity not only uplifts the most disadvantaged but also strengthens outcomes for entire communities. Learn how NCDD members and dialogue practitioners can get involved in advancing these essential democratic ideals. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Member Organization, Healthy Democracy, recently shared an article on a citizens' assembly in Deschutes County, Oregon, brought together a diverse group of residents to deliberate on youth homelessness. Participants, selected through a lottery, engaged in structured discussions and expert-led panels to develop policy recommendations. The initiative demonstrated how ordinary people can navigate complex political issues effectively, fostering constructive dialogue in contrast to the usual polarization seen in public discourse. Read more in the blog post below and on Healthy Democracy's site here.

Fort Collins is collaborating with several organizations to conduct a civic assembly process for determining the future use of the former Hughes Stadium site. Key partners include the Healthy Democracy Fund, The American Public Trust, CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation, the Straayer Center for Public Service Leadership, and the Local Policy Lab. These groups aim to ensure the process is inclusive, representative, and focused on depolarizing discussions, engaging underrepresented voices, and fostering collaborative problem-solving. Read more in the blog post below!

Kim Allonce is transforming how Haitians address pressing challenges through his Inclusive Dialogue Framework, which builds trust, cohesion, and resilience in communities. Rooted in his doctoral research and cultural traditions, the Framework progresses through stages: self-reflection, lakou conversations (community dialogues), intergroup dialogues, and eventually Citizen Assemblies. These dialogues aim to strengthen social capital, bridge divides, and empower Haitians to collaboratively address national issues. Through a partnership with the Interactivity Foundation, Kim developed a facilitation certificate program to train students as dialogue facilitators, fostering a culture of trust and inclusivity across Haiti. Read the blog post below and learn more here. 

The "Post-Election: Moving Forward Together" Living Room Conversations event on December 3 invites participants to discuss election outcomes in a respectful, open setting. Using a guided format, this conversation focuses on bridging divides, processing election results, and finding common ground despite differing perspectives. The event encourages shared humanity and understanding as participants reflect on moving forward as a nation. Tickets are donation-based, read the blog post below to learn more and register.

A recent citizens assembly in Bend, Oregon, brought 30 residents together to tackle youth homelessness in Deschutes County, a region struggling with high housing costs and growing encampments. Organized by DemocracyNext and Healthy Democracy, the assembly features diverse participants using their collective insights to develop policy recommendations. Eliza Wilson, a former homeless youth and now a program director, shared her story to kickstart discussions, drawing attention to the challenges homeless teens face and potential solutions. While the assembly’s success depends on local government’s willingness to act, advocates see it as a promising model to engage ordinary citizens in solving complex issues. Read the blog post below and learn more here!

Read below an article from Science about AI and citizen's assemblies! Eric Schmidt, Former Google CEO, acknowledges that while AI is complex, its development is too important to be left solely to tech companies. There is a growing movement to involve the public in decisions about AI through citizens' assemblies, inspired by successful examples like Ireland's deliberation on abortion and Paris' assembly on homelessness. These processes allow citizens to contribute to policy decisions on challenging issues, proving that public participation can unlock new solutions. For AI, incorporating democratic deliberation could help steer its development toward the public good, but only if companies and governments are willing to take these inputs seriously and act on them.