On July 1st, NCDD along with several partners, launched the Practitioner Mobilization for Democracy (PMD) to engage mediation and facilitation practitioners in fostering democratic engagement and resolving conflicts. The virtual event featured keynote speakers Ken Cloke and Joan Blades, who emphasized the importance of dialogue in strengthening democracy and building community trust. The initiative aims to mobilize practitioners for pro-democracy efforts, with opportunities for involvement through monthly forum calls, resources, and joining the organizing team. Learn more in the post below and join the mobilization!

Celebrate this Fourth of July with the return of A Braver Way podcast for its second season, featuring real-life stories from across the political spectrum. Their first episode aired July 2, 2024, and dove into the fierce rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, exploring how their partisan clashes can inform our political disagreements today. Tune in to discover how Americans are taking the toxicity out of politics and fostering productive conversations. Read the blog post below, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or learn more here.

"Everyone’s In" (EI) is a new initiative from NCDD friends, the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), designed to facilitate respectful and inclusive discussions on controversial political issues. It aims to promote understanding and learning, with a focus on elections and voting. The program employs updated forum formats and materials for both online and in-person settings, incorporating informal polls, background information, and thoughtful dialogue to ensure inclusive participation and engagement on political subjects. Find resources and upcoming training opportunities in August to support using the EI guides. Read more in the blog post below and learn more here.

NCDD Member Organization, Essential Partners, and local YMCAs are launching a two-year project funded by a $224,000 grant to create a network of community bridge-builders across the U.S. Using the Reflective Structured Dialogue approach, they will train YMCA staff, volunteers, and youth leaders to foster inclusive public discourse and enhance social cohesion. The initiative aims to empower communities to navigate differences and promote a sense of inclusion and belonging. Learn more in post below and on EP's site here. 

Everyone's In introduces an innovative online forum format, fostering courteous conversations on challenging issues. Developed by NCDD Member Organization, The National Issues Forums Institute, it ensures inclusive participation through anonymous polls and equal footing for all participants. Learn more in the blog post below and on the NIFI site here.

The National Civic League, an NCDD member organization, released the National Civic Review Spring Edition 2024 and now everyone can access NCR for free! This esteemed quarterly journal offers insights and examples of civic engagement and deliberative governance from around the country. Thanks to Rebecca Trout, NCL’s Program Director for All-America City Award & Communications, for sharing this announcement with the NCDD network! Find the NCR Spring Edition on NCL's site here.

NCDD member org, Essential Partners, announced their new publication, Guide to Dialogues About Israel-Palestine, to actively equip those interested in facilitating dialogues in various settings. This guide emphasizes the importance of respecting diverse perspectives without compromising identities or advocating extreme viewpoints, recommends skilled facilitation for highly polarized situations, and extends support to both trained and untrained facilitators. Its ultimate goal is to cultivate open, hopeful, and caring dialogue spaces amidst complexity and differences. Learn more below and on EP's site here. 

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is soliciting input from the public on best practices for public participation and community engagement (PPCE) activities, aiming to make government interactions more inclusive, transparent, and accountable. Americans are encouraged to share their experiences, suggest content for a federal framework, propose ways to improve the process, and provide feedback through public comments, online forms, or attending virtual listening sessions by May 17th. The initiative seeks to enhance government consultations with the public to inform policies, regulations, and services, addressing concerns about accessibility and stakeholder engagement. NCDD is working on generating a response and we will follow up with our network in the near future. Learn more in the post below and on GSA's site here.

NCDD member organization, The Bridge Alliance, is hosting an online dialogue event for the new film, Civil War, on April 20th at 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific. By facilitating discussions around the film, the event seeks to harness art's power to foster connection amidst societal divides and reflect on shared concerns, particularly political violence. Open to all interested in discussing the movie in a structured and secure environment, the event encourages participation in large group introductions and small group discussions to spark engaging conversations. Learn more and register to join in tomorrow!

Join us for the National Week of Conversation (NWOC) virtual event on April 19th to discuss the new documentary "Divided We Fall: Listening With Curiosity", happening at 4pm Eastern, 1pm Pacific. The film explores how strangers divided over President Trump's presidency come together to discuss divisive issues like gun violence and immigration, and the film highlights the power of listening with curiosity to bridge divides. Open to anyone interested in promoting cohesion, participants are encouraged to complete a questionnaire and stream the film before attending the virtual event. Learn more in the post below and register here!