Celebrating Roshan Bliss: A New Chapter as Director of Democracy Innovations at NCDD

Roshan Bliss has been promoted to Director of Democracy Innovations here at the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation! In his new role, he will lead the Democracy TV project, which aims to showcase the power of deliberative democracy on television by featuring diverse Americans collaborating on community issues. Roshan, based in Denver, is a certified mediator with over a decade of experience and was instrumental in launching Denver’s first participatory budgeting process. Please join us in wishing him congratulations! Learn more about Roshan and his work in the blog post below.

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​We are thrilled to announce Roshan Bliss's promotion to Director of Democracy Innovations at the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD). Roshan's journey with NCDD began as our Blog Curator and then as Youth & Student Engagement Coordinator, where he made significant strides in fostering youth involvement in civic processes.

In his new role, Roshan will spearhead the Democracy TV project, an exciting initiative aimed at bringing the transformative work of our field to television audiences nationwide that is poised to highlight the power of dialogue, deliberative democracy, and public engagement in addressing societal challenges. He will also be helping develop and coordinate NCDD’s involvement in initiatives aimed at catalyzing democratic innovation among scholars, practitioners, and leaders in adjacent fields

Based in Denver, Roshan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position. He is a certified mediator with over a decade of experience in public engagement and deliberative processes. One of his notable achievements includes helping to launch and manage Denver’s first-ever participatory budgeting process, a groundbreaking initiative that empowered residents to have a direct say in how public funds are spent.

Roshan’s academic background is equally impressive. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Purdue University and pursued graduate studies in conflict resolution at the University of Denver, focusing on civic theory, participatory democracy, and collaborative governance.

Roshan's promotion marks a significant milestone for NCDD, as we continue to expand our impact and explore innovative ways to promote democratic engagement. We are confident that under Roshan's leadership, the Democracy TV project will inspire and engage audiences across the country, showcasing the importance of dialogue and deliberation in building a more inclusive and participatory society.

Please join us in congratulating Roshan on his well-deserved promotion. You can reach out to him at roshan [at] ncdd [dot] org to learn more about his work and the exciting initiatives underway.

Congratulations, Roshan! We look forward to witnessing the incredible contributions you will make in your new role.

About The Democracy TV Project
Democracy TV is an innovative reality television series designed to foster hope for fixing political dysfunction in American democracy by bringing together real people to solve real problems. The show will feature twelve Americans from diverse political backgrounds who live together for seven days to democratically agree on solutions to their community's most pressing issues. Through this social experiment, Democracy TV aims to serve as a cultural intervention that helps shift our national discourse from toxic partisanship toward productive political engagement. By showcasing healthy debates, rule-based decision-making, and the humanization of political opponents, the series intends to teach viewers pro-democracy skills, generate demand for democratic processes, and potentially lower the temperature of our polarized politics.

The show plans to leverage the Citizens Jury model, where a representative group of participants receives information, deliberates on social issues, and makes unanimous decisions on how to address thorny issues. The show will include celebrity hosts, expert facilitators, and conflict resolution experts who guide participants and viewers through the process. Audience activation will be a crucial aspect of the show, with calls to action, online engagement, and educational resources encouraging viewers to participate in local democratic events. Democracy TV is positioned as a catalyst for a nationwide pro-democracy movement, aiming to build empathy, promote understanding, and create enthusiasm for democratic participation.

Find the pitch deck at www.bit.ly/democracytvdeck. Please reach out to Roshan and/or put potential collaborators in contact with him at roshan [at] ncdd [dot] org.