Meet NCDD's Summer 2025 Intern Cohort: A Diverse Group of Change-Makers Ready to Bridge Divides7/7/2025  The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation proudly welcomes its Summer 2025 intern cohort—a dynamic group of eight changemakers dedicated to bridging divides and strengthening democracy. With backgrounds spanning social work, civic tech, environmental mediation, education, and international policy, these interns bring a wealth of experience, passion, and fresh perspectives to the field of dialogue and deliberation. United by a shared commitment to inclusive engagement and constructive communication, they reflect the power of diversity in building stronger, more connected communities. Read more in the blog post below.
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 We’re excited to introduce Dialogue Spotlights—a new monthly feature that recognizes and celebrates the incredible people in the NCDD community who are advancing dialogue and deliberation in meaningful ways. From standout facilitators to behind-the-scenes leaders, these spotlights shine a light on the everyday efforts that make our network strong. Read more in the blog post below.
NCDD at the 22nd Century Initiative Conference: Building the “Bigger We” for Democratic Resilience6/24/2025 By Keiva Hummel, Executive Director, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation From June 19–22, 2025, the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) had the honor of attending the 22nd Century Initiative Conference in Atlanta, GA—an energizing convening of over 1,000 movement builders, narrative strategists, organizers, civic practitioners, artists, and funders working to forge a people-powered democracy. Hosted by the 22nd Century Initiative, the gathering focused on connecting past victories to future possibilities through courageous strategy, narrative power, and deep collaboration. The conference drew together people across sectors united by a shared belief: that a healthy democracy requires active participation, respectful engagement across differences, and infrastructure that supports informed decision-making.  I attended alongside Roshan Bliss, NCDD’s Director of Democracy Innovations, as part of our continued effort to position dialogue and deliberation as essential civic infrastructure (and met up with NCDD Member, Duncan Autrey!). Over 100 breakout sessions explored themes of building narrative power, defending democracy, racial justice, political education, spiritual grounding, and joyful resistance. Roshan and I were especially moved by the opportunities for dialogue and deliberation in these efforts. From navigating deep ideological divides to supporting cross-sector collaborations, our tools in the D&D field are increasingly recognized as vital. Speakers and attendees reflected on the need to better connect D&D practitioners with organizers and cultural workers, to deepen our impact and bridge the persistent gap between theory and action.
A powerful theme throughout the conference was the call to move from episodic outrage to sustained organization. This shift means embedding storytelling, dialogue, and deliberation into the daily practices of civic and community life, and resourcing the infrastructure that makes it possible. We left 22CI reaffirmed in our mission and excited to collaborate across movements to build what many described as the “Bigger We.”  If you're passionate about bringing people together across divides to create meaningful change, the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) offers a welcoming professional community, rich resources, and support tailored to both new and experienced practitioners. With flexible membership options, access to a national network, and a shared commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous learning, NCDD helps you grow your impact and connect with others doing this vital work. Read more in the blog post below.
 In their timely and compelling article for The Fulcrum, NCDD’s Director of Democracy Innovations, Roshan Bliss, and Assemble America’s Executive Director, Nick Coccoma, explore how citizens’ assemblies can serve as a powerful tool to prevent a democratic unraveling in the United States. As calls to rewrite the Constitution gain traction—particularly through a well-funded Article V movement on the far right—Bliss and Coccoma offer a democratic counterproposal: a “ground floor plan” for constitutional renewal rooted in deliberation, representation, and public legitimacy. This piece lays out a visionary strategy for civic actors across the country to build new democratic infrastructure, grounded in the voices and wisdom of everyday people. Their call is clear: it’s time to roll up our sleeves and rebuild the house of American democracy—before it's too late. Read the article in full below.
 With just one week remaining until “Deliberation in Action: A Civic Season Call to Reimagine Democracy”, now is the time to register for this timely and action-focused webinar. Held during Civic Season, this event brings together leading democratic innovators to share real-world strategies for bridging divides, building civic trust, and making democracy more inclusive and participatory. Whether you're an engaged citizen or a civic leader, this conversation will equip you with tools to help strengthen democracy in your community. Read more in the blog post below.
 The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is excited to welcome Jason Vadnos as our new Executive Assistant. A dedicated advocate for civil discourse and a standout student at Vanderbilt University, Jason brings a rich blend of academic insight, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to bridging divides through dialogue. From launching award-winning initiatives like "Let's Be SVL" to supporting national civic engagement efforts, his background uniquely positions him to strengthen NCDD's mission. Jason’s arrival signals a bright future for our work advancing democratic dialogue. Read more in the blog post below.
 Join the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) on Monday, June 23rd for "Deliberation in Action: A Civic Season Call to Reimagine Democracy," from 12–1:30 p.m. Eastern / 9–10:30 a.m. Pacific. This timely webinar will explore how communities across the country are using dialogue, deliberation, and civic engagement to bridge divides, build trust, and shape inclusive policy. As part of Civic Season—the reflective period between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July—this event highlights democracy as a living culture that requires ongoing practice and renewal. Featuring leading voices in democratic innovation, the conversation will offer real-world examples, strategic insights, and a vision for collective action. Register here and more in the blog post below.
NCDD May Webinar Recap - Rethinking Inclusivity: Expanding the Invitation in Public Engagement5/27/2025  On May 22, 2025, community organizers and civic professionals joined NCDD for an engaging and thought-provoking webinar, Rethinking Inclusivity: Expanding the Invitation in Public Engagement. This timely session explored how today’s political climate—while undeniably polarized—also presents opportunities to reimagine public engagement in ways that resonate across political, cultural, and geographic divides.
Co-presenters Elena Martínez-Torres (Sustained Dialogue Institute), Phillipe Cunningham (Urban Rural Action), Siri Erickson (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement), and Tahnee Robertson (Southwest Decision Resources) shared powerful reflections on inclusive language, rural engagement, intergenerational participation, and adaptive strategies for reaching those often left out of civic spaces. Panelists highlighted that inclusivity is not just about who is present—but how we show up, how we frame our invitations, and how we build spaces rooted in shared values like respect, fairness, and community. Participants left with concrete tools, deeper insights, and a renewed commitment to fostering belonging and representation in civic life. Read more lessons from the webinar and watch the recording below. By Keiva Hummel, Executive Director, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation From May 14–16, 2025, NCDD had the honor of participating in the American Democracy Summit in Phoenix, Arizona—a gathering that brought together democracy innovators, advocates, and organizers from across the country. This powerful convening spotlighted bold strategies and collaborative efforts to reimagine what a thriving, people-powered democracy can look like.  I had the pleasure of attending alongside Roshan Bliss, NCDD’s Director of Democracy Innovations. Together with long-time NCDD member Duncan Autrey, we led a session titled "Rethinking Conflict: The Future of Democracy Depends on It." This highly interactive workshop invited participants to explore the question that sparked NCDD’s Practitioner Mobilization for Democracy (PMD) initiative: Why aren’t there more mediators and facilitators in the democracy space?
That question—first voiced at ADS 2023—has since galvanized a growing coalition of practitioners dedicated to bringing the skills of dialogue, deliberation, and conflict transformation into our democracy infrastructure. Our workshop gave participants a firsthand experience of how conflict escalates—and how, with the right tools, it can be transformed into deeper understanding and collaborative action. |
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ABOUT NCDD
NCDD is a community and coalition of individuals and organizations who bring people together to discuss, decide and collaborate on today's toughest issues.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.