In an age where conversations often feel like a series of talking points rather than meaningful exchange, Dr. John Igwebuike is leading a transformative shift—redefining listening as an active, collaborative practice. As a Visiting Fellow with the Interactivity Foundation’s Collaborative Discussion Project, he’s developing innovative tools that train people not just to hear, but to listen with presence, intention, and empathy. His creative exercises, such as the "3-2-1" rotation and Listening Bingo, are changing how we approach dialogue in communities, classrooms, and beyond. Read more in the blog post below.

In a time when meaningful conversations across divides are more important than ever, NCDD Member, Living Room Conversations has launched the "Connecting Through Conversations Course"—an accessible, self-paced program designed to help everyday people build stronger, more empathetic relationships. With a focus on active listening, trust-building, and navigating tough conversations, this 8-module course equips participants with practical skills to foster connection in their personal lives and communities. Backed by leading voices in the bridging field and offering credentialing opportunities, it’s a powerful resource for anyone seeking to transform dialogue from the ground up. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Friend, Dr. Timothy Shaffer’s recent presentation at Chaminade University offers a timely and transformative rethinking of civil discourse. Rather than reducing civility to mere politeness, Shaffer introduces a nuanced framework distinguishing between weak, strong, and pseudo civility—encouraging dialogue practitioners to embrace passionate, democratic engagement, even when it includes protest or confrontation. Addressing the deeper emotional divides of affective polarization, he outlines practical strategies like intellectual humility, principled advocacy, and the use of informal “third spaces” to bridge ideological gaps. Shaffer’s message is clear: each of us holds agency to foster stronger civic culture amid division. Read more in the blog post below.

​This June, Akron, Ohio will host the Citizens' Assembly School, a two-day intensive program presented by FIDE - North America and Unify America, offering dialogue and deliberation practitioners a rare opportunity to explore citizens' assemblies—an increasingly vital tool in participatory democracy. Held June 12–13 at the Bounce Innovation Hub, the program combines expert-led instruction with hands-on workshops covering the full lifecycle of citizens' assemblies, including recruitment through sortition, question framing, facilitation, evaluation, and scaling. With a faculty of leading practitioners and scholars, including representatives from MASS LBP, FIDE, and major universities, participants will gain both the skills and networks needed to implement or support assemblies in their own communities. Akron's selection as host city reflects its growing role in civic innovation, and the event emphasizes accessibility with scholarships for local participants and a registration deadline of May 30. Read more in the blog post below.

In Strategic Questioning, Juanita Brown, David Isaacs, Eric Vogt, and Nancy Margulies explore how asking the right questions—rather than chasing the right answers—can unlock learning, innovation, and transformation. Highlighting examples like Hewlett-Packard’s shift in purpose, the authors show how strategic questions can reshape organizations. For dialogue practitioners, the article offers practical insights on creating spaces where powerful questions and collective wisdom can thrive. Read more in the blog post below. ​

​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.