​Lena Frumin, a passionate advocate for seniors in Washington, D.C., aimed to combat the isolation many older adults experience by organizing meaningful discussions through partnerships with the Interactivity Foundation. These gatherings, hosted in libraries and community centers, brought seniors together for shared conversations, meals, and cultural events, helping foster connections and combat loneliness. Paul Eisenhaur, inspired by these discussions, created an online Diversity Relations Council to continue engaging seniors during the pandemic. Both Lena and Paul's efforts fostered a sense of community, teaching participants the power of active listening and understanding amidst divisive times. Read the blog post below and learn more here. 

This summer, indulge in Democracy Group's curated list of must-read books spanning political analysis, public policy, and memoirs. From in-depth examinations of Supreme Court cases and digital age impacts to insightful interviews with authors, this collection offers something for every reader. Highlights include "The Latino Century" by Mike Madrid on Latino voting trends, "Learning to Disagree" by John Inazu on navigating differences, and "Who Stole the American Dream" by Hedrick Smith on U.S. political history. Dive into these selections and gain fresh perspectives on contemporary issues. Read the blog post below and learn more here. 

Many suburban developments built in the last century are now facing urgent repair needs. NCDD member, Miles Fidelman, an engineer with extensive experience, is addressing these challenges in his community of Nagog Woods, a 50-year-old condominium complex. He highlights the necessity of comprehensive measures and collaboration to avoid skyrocketing costs and catastrophic failures. Fidelman invites the community to follow his journey of organizing and financing major renovations, aiming to create sustainable, affordable, and well-maintained neighborhoods. Through this initiative, he seeks to provide a blueprint for other communities to follow. Thanks to Miles Fidelman for sharing this announcement with the NCDD network! Learn more in the blog post below and read the article here. 

We encourage you to go listen to the new podcast "The Context" from NCDD Member Organization, the Kettering Foundation. Hosted by Alex Lovit, Kettering's Senior Program Officer and Historian, the podcast seeks "to shed light on democracy’s history, current condition, and future prospects. Episodes will cover topics like inclusive democracy, citizen engagement, government accountability, and the threat of authoritarianism." Learn more in the post below and subscribe to the podcast here.

NCDD Member, Lori Britt, was featured on Brand Story a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Each episode features guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.

Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.

Lori Britt is the President of the Board of Directors of NCDD along with a Professor of Communication and Co-Director of  at James Madison University. As a long-time communication instructor, Lori has taught various courses on group and organizational communication with a focus on community dialogue and deliberation. She is also Co-Director of JMU’s Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue (ICAD). This episode discusses the importance of intentional conversations with the host, Steve Gilman. Britt's episode is titled Dialogue & Deliberation. ​

From the episode description: 
There’s a difference between communicating with someone and having an intentional conversation. Understanding the way you talk and how that impacts the way you think is important in helping to break down barriers and engage in civic conversations with others. It’s the heart of what Lori teaches and models for others — figuring out the why.

It’s become even more important now to be able to engage with others of differing opinions without breaking down. Dialogue and deliberation are processes that can help us all understand our own way of thinking and identify the constraints we may not know exist. As Lori would say, it’s simple but complex work.

In this episode, Lori challenges us to identify our personal schema and how our thinking has been conditioned. She identifies common challenges that are apparent in conversations and walks us through ways to expand our way of thinking. Whether you’re speaking to an individual or working as a group, her insights will prove valuable in helping shape your next conversation.

NCDD Member Organization, The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), leverages science to advance community priorities. These projects are contributing to a growing movement toward engaged, community-driven science. They recently shared an interview from The Wildlife Center of Virginia where Community Science Fellow Devin Jefferson was interviewed for "Untamed: Life is Wild". Devin showcased his work with the Science Museum of Virginia and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond to study urban heat islands and air quality. His interview is in the May 5: Episode 403: Citizen Science (starting at 16:53). 

Untamed: Life is Wild is an award-winning television series co-produced by the Wildlife Center of Virginia and VPM, Virginia's home for public media. The series focuses on a variety of wildlife issues drawn directly from the stories of the thousands of wild animals in need of care that arrive at the Wildlife Center’s doorstep every year. The stories of these animals illustrate the wider problems wildlife face — litter, pesticides, free-roaming domestic animals, habitat loss, and diseases – and challenge viewers to take action to protect wildlife.

The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a professional membership organization with a vision of increased understanding of—and engagement with—science and technology among all people and a mission to champion and support science and technology centers and museums. Founded in 1973, ASTC champions and supports more than 500 science and technology centers and museums, natural history museums, children’s museums, and other STEM-rich, place-based institutions. ASTC currently runs a Dialogue & Deliberation Fellows Initiative - learn more here!