The National Civic League, an NCDD member organization, is hosting an event called Promising Practices Webinar: The ABCs of Inclusive and Equitable Engagement. 

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2:00 pm ET (1:00 pm CT, 12:00 pm MT, 11:00 am PT)

Webinar Description: 

The process of civic engagement ensures that the many parts of a community— residents, government, business, nonprofit agencies, faith-based organizations and others—work together to address public needs and desires. Whether it’s economic development, safety, health, environmental quality or other matters, civic engagement can lead to lasting solutions that best represent the values and desires of communities. However, if inclusivity and equity are not prioritized as a part of engagement efforts from the very beginning, then resulting information, solutions, and decisions will fail to benefit from or serve the entire community.

During this webinar we will discuss the myriad of considerations–convener, time, location, language, etc.–that need to be addressed to ensure engagement efforts are inclusive and equitable. Registrants will also learn about strategies and best practices for equitable and inclusive engagement, with a few examples from communities successfully doing this work.

Join fellow Dialogue and Discussion champions from London to Lagos, for small group and Open Space conversations that matter. NCDD member, Ron Gross shared an event called Conversation Day hosted by Conversations New York. The event takes place Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 2-4pm Eastern. 

Let's share what we've learned -- and our hopes moving forward! Come share your experiences, concerns and wisdom. Join us for an afternoon of bracing comradeship, mutual support, and intellectual stimulation. 

Discussion Topics:
1. What’s one of the most significant experiences you have had this year, in coping with the multiple crises we have endured? 
2. What have you learned about yourself? 
3. What are some ways that you expect or hope that our your society will be different, as we resume our lives?
4. What will you do differently going forward – personally, socially, professionally, or politically?

Don't forget to register for the free webinar introducing a model for Bohm-inspired Dialogue on Friday, June 3rd. This 90-minute event will be held at 1 PM EDT/10 AM PDT. Register today!

During this webinar, you will learn how the co-authors, Linda Ellinor & Glenna Gerard, of Dialogue: Rediscover the Transforming Power of Conversation (1998, John Wiley & Sons), one of the most comprehensive books based on the work of the late David Bohm (1917 - 1992), came to develop their model of Bohm-inspired Dialogue.   Their book has now been translated into 5 languages and is available as a down-loadable e-book.​

You will learn or experience the following:

• How they came to know of David Bohm’s proposal of Dialogue and the world view from which it originates. 
• A definition of Bohm-inspired Dialogue and how it differs from other forms of conversation such as deliberation and discussion
• Why Dialogue is becoming ever more important in our crisis-ridden world today
• How Dialogue enhances decision-making and leads to aligned collective action
• The essential skills and guidelines for effective Dialogue
• A small-group experience of one of the core skills of Dialogue:  Inquiry & Reflection
• An overview of their current programs: 

          Foundational History and Skills of Dialogue
          Dialogue Application, Design  Facilitation

​This session is FREE and open to all interested in learning more about this powerful approach to dialogue. Register today to join us!

NCDD is thrilled to be involved in the April Promising Practices webinar from the National Civic League! Next Tuesday, April 26th at 2:00pm Eastern/11:00am Pacific, NCDD's Executive Director Courtney Breese will join Samantha Oakley from the American Library Association and Kellee Forkenbrock from North Liberty Library to speak about the Libraries Transforming Communities initiative and NCDD's support of these efforts. The webinar will also talk about the work libraries are doing to serve as centers for dialogue and engagement. 

​Check out the webinar description and speak bios below. And don't forget to register at this link to join us!

Webinar Description: 
Libraries are far more than repositories for books, often serving as hubs for community life and civic engagement. As one of the last remaining accessible public spaces, libraries serve as centers of education and literacy, academic and professional development, engagement and dialogue. During this webinar, attendees will learn about the American Library Association’s initiative, “Libraries Transforming Communities," which has provided libraries opportunities to learn the skills of facilitating community conversations with help from the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation. We will then hear how two libraries are engaging their communities and centering public discourse.

Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC) — an initiative of the American Library Association — seeks to strengthen libraries’ role as core community leaders and change-agents. The initiative addresses a critical need within the library field by developing and distributing new tools, resources and support for librarians to engage with their communities in new ways.

North Liberty Library in Iowa – Lighthouse in the Library is a conversation series giving North Liberty residents an opportunity to speak on important community issues in a town-hall style setting.

Speakers
Courtney Breese, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD)
As the executive director of NCDD, Breese leads a network of 700 individuals and organizations who bring people together across divides to discuss, decide, and take action together effectively on today’s toughest issues. She directs ongoing programs including NCDD’s work with the ALA.

Breese is also an experienced mediation and public engagement practitioner. She has a passion for helping people make connections, communicate more effectively, and make decisions collaboratively. She enjoys examining systems and structures and working to improve society on a macro level.

Kellee Forkenbrock, Public Services Librarian, North Liberty Library
After two decades of work in the private sector, Kellee Forkenbrock joined North Liberty Library in June 2019 as a library assistant. She was promoted to her current role as Public Services Librarian in October of the same year, serving as the community engagement liaison for the library and assisting with the management of the library’s part-time staff.

Kellee holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing and is pursuing a Masters in LIS from the University of Iowa. Her professional background includes a decade of project management with a skills assessment firm and seven years in multimedia advertising for a Gannett newspaper. Kellee is active in her community as a board member, having served for the Iowa City Public Library and Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa. Read more about Kellee on her LinkedIn profile.

Samantha Oakley, Project Director, American Library Association
Samantha Oakley is an experienced project director with a demonstrated history of working in the library field. She is a project director with the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office; in this position she directs the following efforts: Libraries Transforming Communities, Let's Talk About It: Women's Suffrage, Media Literacy Education in Libraries for Adult Audiences, Community Connect, ALA PPO's annual grant opportunities, online learning, evaluation, and partnership inquiries.

She has a BA in English from Western Illinois University, an MA in Gender Studies from Minnesota State University – Mankato, and a Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

America Talks is back April 21 and 23, and now is the time to sign up!

America Talks (April 21 & 23) invites Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs to connect one-on-one or in small groups, face-to-face on video. America Talks is powered by over 150 nonpartisan, bridge building organizations and promoted by USA TODAY and other media partners. This is an exciting opportunity to meet other Americans who want to connect across differences and talk. You can sign up to participate on one or both of these dates at this link. 

The 5th annual National Week of Conversation that follows (April 24-30), invites Americans to find their place in the bridging movement with events hosted by over 80 bridging organizations. These events provide Americans from every corner of the United States the opportunity to discover common interests, solve problems and raise their voices together. Join lots of NCDD member orgs and friends to connect, discuss, and decide together in the many events being offered throughout the week! 

Are you hosting an event during National Week of Conversation? Let us know! Add your event in the comments. Don't forget a link for people to find out how to join!

The NCDD Summer Learning Springboard is back! Save the date for our second annual virtual event, taking place July 25-29, 2022. Join us this summer for a variety of skill building and learning exchange events. 

Last year, more than 125 attendees from across the globe joined us for thirteen engaging sessions, including workshops on Bohm Dialogue, Ripple Effects Mapping, and sessions discussing equity, neutrality, and using technology for engagement. You can check out the 2021 offerings on our Springboard page.

Call for Session Proposals Now Open: Are you interested in leading a session at the 2022 Springboard? Now is the time to submit your session proposal! Go to https://forms.gle/BFvez3YCRtXBPRBaA to review the questions and criteria and submit your proposal. Deadline for submissions is Friday, April 8th. If you have any questions about proposing a session, email courtney@ncdd.org. 

As a reminder, NCDD Members will receive discounted registration rates for most or all sessions, so now is a good time to join or renew your membership!
We look forward to seeing you in July!

​​Our friends at MetroQuest are hosting a webinar next week - Wednesday, February 23 at 2pm EST/11am PST. Below is the description of the event and a link to register. 

“After all, the ordinary hero hiding in each of us is often the most powerful catalyst for change.” ~ Tate Taylor

​We all have a spark within and we choose every day how we will or will not use our spark. In our NCDD community, we spark conversations–dialogues that change hearts and minds and steadily change the world. Our sparks can be small or big, but we must work intentionally to ensure that the sparks catch fire. What do I mean by this? I mean that it is up to us, as those working firsthand in the creations of spaces for dialogue and deliberation, that we do not work in isolation. Like the catalysts in science, we must interact with others to create the chemistry worth having in our world.