​Campus Compact, an NCDD member organization, offers an invaluable resource with its “Better Discourse: A Guide for Bridging Campus Divides in Challenging Times.” As campuses face increased polarization and tension, this guide provides practical, reflective strategies for fostering productive dialogue. With its focus on relationship-building and leveraging existing assets, it serves as an essential tool for campus leaders in 2025. The guide includes contributions from NCDD members, Sara Drury and Lisa-Marie Napoli, among others. Read more in the blog post below.

​A dynamic partnership between NCDD Member, Middlebury College’s Conflict Transformation Collaborative (CT Collaborative) and Burlington-based nuwave Equity Corporation is demonstrating how dialogue practices can lead to meaningful workplace culture change. By combining Middlebury’s academic expertise with nuwave’s innovative equity work, the collaboration equips organizations with tools to foster inclusive, high-performing environments. Centered on core conflict transformation skills—like active listening and curiosity—the initiative exemplifies the impact of cross-sector collaboration. Soon, new training videos and multimedia resources will make these strategies more accessible and scalable. Read more in the blog post below.

The Spring School on Climate Citizens' Assemblies, taking place June 4–6, 2025, in Warsaw, offers a hands-on, three-day training for those passionate about participatory democracy and climate action. Organized by FIDE-Europe with Polish partners and supported by the City of Warsaw, the program covers every stage of designing and running a citizens' assembly—from recruitment and facilitation to governance and follow-up. A special "Deep Dive" day will spotlight inclusive strategies for engaging children and youth in climate deliberations. With expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and a dynamic international faculty, this is a unique opportunity to build skills that translate directly to real-world impact. Read more in the blog post below.

This June, the Sustained Dialogue Institute (SDI), an esteemed member of NCDD, is hosting a four-part virtual training series to equip participants with the tools and techniques of Sustained Dialogue. Beginning June 9, 2025, this hands-on training offers in-depth learning on how to bridge divides and foster constructive dialogue in communities, campuses, and workplaces. Designed for both new and experienced facilitators, this opportunity empowers individuals to create safe spaces, navigate complex conversations, and lead change through relational, action-oriented dialogue. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Member Organization, The World Café shared the article, "Conversational Leadership: Thinking Together for Change", that we wanted to lift up. Conversational leadership centers on dialogue, helping teams share knowledge, build understanding, and generate new insights. It emphasizes methods like the World Café to foster collaboration, engage stakeholders, and guide collective problem-solving. While not explicitly called "deliberation," its focus on addressing critical issues and making informed decisions aligns with deliberative processes. Ultimately, conversational leadership uses dialogue to drive shared understanding and effective action within organizations. Read more in the blog post below.

On April 21, 2025, over 100 participants from across the civic ecosystem joined NCDD for a timely and thought-provoking conversation: “Bridging and Advocating in Divided Times: Navigating the Tension for Stronger Civic Practice.” This webinar explored how dialogue and deliberation professionals can support changemakers without compromising their integrity—and how advocacy and dialogue, far from being at odds, can be understood as complementary tools for strengthening democratic engagement.
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The session featured Julia Roig and Jarvis Williams of The Horizons Project and Dr. Martin Carcasson of the Center for Public Deliberation, who brought decades of experience to a shared inquiry: how can we navigate the tension between impartiality and action in today’s polarized environment? Our panelists ​offered frameworks, tools, and deep reflections on how civic professionals can hold space for multiple truths, foster connection, and support justice-driven work without falling into partisanship or paralysis.

Essential Partners, a member organization of NCDD, exemplifies the power of dialogue in bridging divides. Through their Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD) model, they empower individuals and institutions to engage across differences with empathy and skill. Upcoming workshops in May, June, and July 2025 will offer immersive training for educators and dialogue practitioners to create inclusive and resilient communities—from college classrooms to high school settings. Their work aligns closely with NCDD’s mission and provides accessible, impactful tools for navigating today’s most complex conversations. Read more in the blog post below.

​The Bridging Differences in Higher Education Learning Fellowship is an exciting opportunity for higher education professionals to develop science-based strategies for fostering dialogue across differences. Hosted by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, this free, 8-month virtual fellowship offers two participation tracks—one for campus leaders and another for organizations supporting cross-campus bridge-building efforts. Participants will engage in monthly sessions featuring research insights, practitioner-led discussions, and collaborative learning experiences. Applications are open until April 15, 2025. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Network Partner, Listen First Project, shared with us Resetting the Table's Campus Facilitation Training Program, a 5-month virtual course for higher education professionals to enhance dialogue facilitation skills. Tailored for those with experience, it provides a comprehensive framework for productive campus conversations, with expert coaching support. Ideal for Student Life, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion roles, the training includes ten sessions on practical techniques and collaborative communication, plus insights into RTT's Speaking Across Conflict workshop. With proven impact, this is a must for campus leaders aiming to foster resilient communities. Apply by April 14, 2025; starts in June. Read more in the blog post below.

The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is offering two upcoming online courses designed to enhance the skills of professionals in public participation and community engagement. The Designing & Leading Public Participation course (April 14-17, 2025) will help practitioners master the design and planning phases of public participation, including stakeholder analysis, equity analysis, and developing engagement objectives. The Working with Conflict and High Emotion course (April 15-23, 2025) will focus on de-escalating conflict and managing emotional dynamics in public participation processes. Both courses are ideal for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in public dialogue and decision-making. Read more in the blog post below.