In "Realizing the Potential Gains of AI-Enabled Deliberative Democracy," Micah Weinberg, Nonresident Scholar at Carnegie California, argues that the main obstacle to AI-supported public deliberation is not technology but the weakness of the democratic institutions meant to govern it. His central claim reframes a familiar problem: the tools to run large-scale, accessible, evidence-based deliberation already exist, while the staffing, procurement rules, audit capacity, and standards needed to deploy them responsibly do not. Weinberg identifies concrete gains AI could deliver, including deliberation at the scale of tens of thousands without losing depth, reduced informational asymmetries among participants, wider inclusion, and stronger accountability between citizen input and policy outcomes, alongside the risks that threaten each. For practitioners, the piece offers a governance-first agenda, including certification standards, participant-facing audit mechanisms, and publicly governed open-source platforms, rather than a technical wish list. Its framing speaks directly to NCDD's mission by insisting that the legitimacy of deliberation depends on human and institutional choices, not on the sophistication of the tools.

The George Gund Foundation, a Cleveland-based philanthropy, used its June 2026 grants announcement to articulate an explicit commitment to nonpartisan democracy-building grantmaking, awarding funding to organizations such as the Fair Elections Center and the Ohio Mayors Alliance Foundation under a dedicated Democracy Building program area. The foundation frames this work around centering historically marginalized voices, providing multi-year operating support rather than one-time grants, and encouraging collaboration among grantees committed to democratic participation. This approach offers a practical model for how funders can support the infrastructure behind civic engagement and dialogue work, rather than only its programming. Organizations seeking funding for democracy-strengthening work can apply year-round for grants up to $100,000, with the next deadline for larger requests set for July 15, 2026. The foundation's framing connects directly to NCDD's mission by treating democracy not as a fixed condition but as an ongoing collective practice requiring sustained investment.

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani signed an Executive Order on January 2, 2026, establishing the Mayor's Office of Mass Engagement — a new City Hall office designed to fundamentally transform how New Yorkers participate in city government by reaching communities historically excluded from policymaking, creating transparent feedback loops between residents and decision-makers, and coordinating the city's existing civic engagement infrastructure under a unified strategy. Led by Commissioner Tascha Van Auken, a veteran grassroots organizer whose field operation on the Mamdani campaign mobilized over 100,000 volunteers and generated the highest mayoral election turnout since 1969, the office represents one of the most significant formal governmental commitments to mass civic participation by a major American city in recent memory. The announcement directly advances NCDD's mission by demonstrating that participatory democracy and inclusive community engagement are being embraced not just by civil society but by government institutions as essential functions of democratic governance.

Carnegie UK's Engaging Democracy programme has released Parliamentarians' Perspectives on Deliberative Democracy, a polling study conducted by Savanta in late 2025 surveying elected representatives across the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Senedd, and Northern Ireland Assembly on their awareness of, attitudes toward, and openness to deliberative democratic processes. The research finds that while elected representatives across all jurisdictions display cautious openness to deliberative approaches, significant barriers persist — including concerns about legitimacy, role duplication, and institutional capacity — and that awareness and experience vary substantially by jurisdiction and political affiliation. A consistent and actionable finding across the report is that direct experience of deliberative processes tends to reduce scepticism, pointing to education and structured exposure as critical pathways for the field. The report is essential reading for NCDD members working at the intersection of deliberative democracy and formal governance, offering both empirical grounding and concrete recommendations for advancing deliberative practice within legislative institutions.

​SFU's Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue convened nearly 40 civic leaders and organizations in March 2026 to prioritize recommendations from BC's Special Committee on Democratic and Electoral Reform, which had received input from nearly 1,000 individuals and organizations. Participants identified seven high-impact, implementable priorities — including establishing a non-partisan democratic engagement centre, strengthening civic education, countering election misinformation, and considering a people's assembly on electoral reform. The Centre for Dialogue, which presented to the Special Committee directly, frames the current moment as a rare policy window where public concern and institutional momentum are aligned. For NCDD's network, the initiative demonstrates how deliberative convening can translate broad institutional reform agendas into focused, collectively owned priorities — a model with clear relevance beyond British Columbia.

​Healthy Democracy and Sortition USA are offering a Leadership Training for Democracy program (apply by April 30, 2026) to help participants move from learning to action through local organizing around civic assemblies. The two-weekend virtual training (May 23–24 and May 30–31) covers how assemblies use lottery selection and facilitation to improve decision-making, with case studies and practical guidance for advocacy. Limited to 10 participants, the program requires ~4 hours/week post-training for outreach and organizing, and includes six months of support (mentorship, check-ins, peer network, and potential seed funding) to help participants build local initiatives and advance democratic innovation.

​The People Powered 2026 Convening, taking place March 2–5 in Nairobi, Kenya, will bring together democracy practitioners from around the world to advance people-powered democracy under the theme Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions. Designed as a collaborative, co-created gathering, the convening combines hands-on learning, site visits to local participatory initiatives, and strategic conversations about power, inclusion, and systemic change. Sessions will address both practical implementation—such as evaluating participatory programs and designing inclusive digital engagement—and urgent global challenges including climate democracy, decolonizing practice, equitable participation, and narrative change. For practitioners in dialogue and deliberation, the convening offers a rare opportunity to connect with global peers, learn from innovations across contexts, and help shape shared strategies and resources for strengthening participatory democracy worldwide.

​The National Civic League has announced the 20 finalists for the 2025 All-America City Award, highlighting communities that are leading the way in tackling climate change through inclusive civic engagement. These finalists represent diverse regions across the U.S. and have been selected for their innovative, collaborative approaches to creating sustainable and resilient communities. The award emphasizes the transformative power of community dialogue and action, showcasing the impact of collective efforts in addressing environmental challenges. These communities provide valuable models for others seeking to engage residents in environmental sustainability. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Friends, ​The Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership at Pepperdine University is offering a virtual training on conflict resolution for local government professionals on March 25 & April 1, 2025. This two-session course (90 minutes each) provides practical tools to transform workplace and community conflicts into opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Participants will explore the root causes of conflict, assess their personal conflict styles, and learn the Path to Peace Framework for effective resolution. Registration is required, with a general admission fee of $275. Read more in the blog post below.

As we approach the upcoming election on November 5th, there is no doubt that our communities feel the heightened tension of polarization, uncertainty, and divisive news cycles. In times like these, resources focused on dialogue and deliberation offer powerful tools for bridging divides and fostering meaningful conversations. Over the past week, we have shared many valuable tools and have included those all here, along with some additional resources for your use. Dialogue and deliberation practitioners play a vital role in strengthening democracy through these challenging times. We encourage you to read through the resources below, along with a note from our team, and share additional tools in the comment section. ​