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.

NCDD Network Partner, the International Listening Association (ILA) is hosting their next convention. Join the 46th Annual ILA Convention, July 30–August 2, 2025, at the University of Maryland. Explore the theme "Listening S.O.N.G." through keynotes, workshops, and networking. Submit proposals by January 15, 2025, and connect with experts across diverse fields to advance the art of listening. Learn more in the blog post below and read more on the website here. 

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks our country’s second independence day and is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved Black people in America. This important day in American history is marked with parades, prayer, dancing, and family gatherings. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture and Teach for America offer a rich compilation of resources, including lesson plans, books, videos, and classroom guides, to enrich conversations around this significant day. We invite you to share any dialogue and deliberation resources in the comments below.

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.

NCDD Network Partner, NAFCM - The National Association for Community Mediation has some exciting updates to share with the NCDD network. In celebration of NAFCM's 30th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, NAFCM invites members to engage in community action throughout 2024, with monthly themes related to peace, justice, and engagement. Join the "Momentum May" event on May 21, 2024, at 7 PM Eastern, to connect with community mediation practitioners across the continent, learn from history, celebrate achievements, and envision a brighter future. Learn more in the post below and on NAFCM's site.

The Good Society: A Journal of Civic Studies welcomes a new editorial team comprising Chad Hoggan, Kara Dillard, and Tanja Hoggan-Kloubert - please join us in wishing them congratulations! The journal focuses on interdisciplinary research to understand and enhance civic society, drawing from fields like political science, sociology, and economics. With a commitment to fostering dialogue across ideological and international divides, The Good Society invites submissions addressing various aspects of civic society, maintaining high scholarly standards and rigorous peer-review processes. Learn more in the post below and here.

NCDD Network Partner, The International Listening Association, is hosting its 45th Annual Convention in Bloomington, Minnesota, where it first began. Scheduled for June 12-16, 2024, participants can expect a rejuvenating experience, connecting with a global community, enhancing listening skills, and gaining insights from esteemed scholars and experts. Reserve your spot now to join this transformative event and elevate your listening practice. Learn more in the post below and on ILA's Convention site here.

We are excited to announce the new NCDD Job & Internship Board! 

Our job and internship board connects individuals and organizations committed to driving positive change through meaningful conversations and collaboration. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to the field, our job and internship board offers a wide array of opportunities tailored to your skills and interests. 
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• Employers: Showcase your job or internship openings here to reach a diverse pool of candidates dedicated to advancing dialogue and deliberation in their communities. Share new roles via "Post a Job or Internship" feature.
• Job/internship seekers: Explore our listings to find opportunities where you can apply your skills to promote understanding, bridge divides, and create lasting impact through dialogue and deliberation.

We'll share new positions via the Job-Internship Board regularly, so make sure you bookmark the page and check back when you're looking for new opportunities. You'll notice at the top of the NCDD site, under the "News" tab, there is link to the new "NCDD Job-Internship Board". Jump to the NCDD Job & Internship Board here: www.ncdd.org/dd-jobs-internship-board.

The Making A Living List (D&D Jobs List) will still remain active and we encourage members to continue sharing job/internships in that space if that is your preference. Opportunities shared on the Jobs list will be reshared on the Jobs Board to help further boost announcements in a public-facing place on the NCDD site for easier access. 

Join this national online conversation tomorrow, January 25th, on "How can we inspire more productive discourse in the 2024 election?" Explore ways in which dialogue and deliberation offer potential opportunities to impact the upcoming U.S. Presidential election. Happening from 4-5:30pm  Eastern, 1-2:30pm Pacific. ​Register to attend: https://bit.ly/CPDNC2024 

NCDD friends, Windy Lawrence (University of Houston - Downtown) and Lisa-Marie Napoli (Indiana University - Bloomington), will moderate the conversation.

​From their invitation via the NCDD listserv, "We invite anyone who is interested in learning and brainstorming with others about how dialogue and deliberation offers potential for productive discourse and action for the 2024 election cycle. Many individuals joining will have experience with dialogic and deliberative engagement, but others may not, and may just be concerned and want to help work on this issue." This conversation is sponsored by Indiana University and UHD Center for Public Deliberation.