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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. Living Room Conversations: Strengthening Trust and Unity Around Elections Following the election, the Post-Election: Moving Forward Together conversation will focus on healing and unity, regardless of election outcomes. Once the votes are counted, it’s essential to process the results and begin the journey of working together for the future of the country. This conversation promotes the idea that while political divisions exist, we can still hold onto our shared humanity. It seeks to explore how we can come together around common ideals to move forward, focusing on community and country rather than individual wins or losses. Post-Election: Moving Forward Together
Living Room Conversations on Talking About Politics: We have created this resource page as a vehicle for beginning to have tough conversations on political issues. Whether it is grappling with what it really means to be an American, the impact of political stereotypes in our lives, or the role that money plays in politics, Living Room Conversations has created a guide to get you started. In addition, making sure that people that do the political conversations pay attention to political balance is a key part of our polarization work. Political diversity is essential to some conversations. Especially with polarized topics, we encourage you to take extra care to include people who hold different political views. Engaging only with people who hold similar views can lead to further entrenchment of our own beliefs and more polarization. One way to create political balance is to invite a friend with differing politics to co-host the conversation. Each person invites two friends. When inviting guests, consider all kinds of differences – age, culture, political leaning, gender – what voices are you most interested to hear from? What voices might best enrich your conversation? Helping America Talk: How We Can Improve Public Discourse From the Interactivity Foundation: You might think of a democratic society as one that is involved in a grand conversation, a public conversation, about where that society might be headed and how it might get there. Our public talk, our public discourse, covers the many different ways that we, as citizens can communicate with each other about public matters. We communicate as individuals and as groups. We talk to each other–and we talk with our government. And government talks to us. Thanks to new communication technologies, our public talk is flowing in more directions than ever–and opening up new access points to join the public conversation. The seven contrasting policy possibilities in this discussion guide are intended to spur discussion and open up our exploration of these & related issues. These broad policy approaches address how people might gain access to and participate in public discourse, and how to improve the quality of public discourse for those who participate. The Policy Circle: Nonpartisan Voter Guide for 2024 Election The Policy Circle’s “Road to November” series provides nonpartisan tools and information to support U.S. voters through the 2024 election process. It explains fundamental election topics, including voter rights, candidate evaluation, civic engagement, and how elections work at local and national levels. Designed to foster informed voting and productive discussion, the series includes resources to clarify the impact of elections on communities, alongside links to credible sources for ongoing updates. For more details and resources, explore the Policy Circle Election Series. Morning After the Election - Managing the Day(s) and Week(s) after Election Day The Institute for Democracy & Higher Education (IDHE) guide helps campuses support students, faculty, and staff through the often tense post-election period. It encourages defending academic freedom, sharing responsibility for setting post-election norms, and creating safe spaces for students to express themselves. IDHE also advises on responding to students in distress, proactively addressing disinformation, and preparing for peaceful protests, fostering an inclusive, resilient campus community. Ultimately, the guide positions elections as teachable moments to strengthen democratic engagement and discourse. Read the summary below and find the full guide from IDHE and AAC&U. Strengthening Democracy Through Respectful Discourse Within Universities NCDD members, the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, encourages thoughtful dialogue about democracy, beyond just voting, especially during uncertain election outcomes. The center advises reflecting on personal biases, practicing patience, and fostering empathy by actively listening and respecting diverse perspectives. The guide suggests fostering a “brave space” for open, respectful conversations, emphasizing collaboration over competition to reduce polarization. It also highlights the importance of media literacy in evaluating information sources and offers faculty, staff, and students a framework for engaging in meaningful discussions about democracy and public issues. The Countdown to Election Day: The Power of Dialogue and Deliberation in Democracy As we approach the U.S. presidential election, the stakes for democracy have never felt higher. Around the world, democratic systems are under immense pressure—polarization is intensifying, trust in institutions is fading, and civic participation is at an all-time low. These issues show up in our communities as division, disengagement, and a lack of spaces for meaningful conversations. But there is hope: these challenges aren’t insurmountable. At NCDD, we believe that dialogue and deliberation give communities the tools they need to navigate through these tough times. Mediators and facilitators—those who guide these collaborative processes—are uniquely equipped to help communities overcome obstacles by fostering inclusive dialogue, resolving conflict, and encouraging active participation in democratic processes. A Braver Way Podcast: Election Survival Guide Braving the unknown: Your election survival guide Link: https://braverangels.org/a-braver-way-episode-19/ Description: How can you navigate this election with integrity? No matter who wins… no matter what? In this special election week episode, Moni and April roll out a survival guide that lends wisdom to all this anxiety. Drawing inspiration from A Braver Way guests like somatic therapist Luis Mojica, trans activist Kai Cheng Thom, conservative podcast host Wilk Wilkinson, and many more, your politically red and blue co-hosts ask what it’ll take to manage the one and only thing we can control this election… ourselves. A final note from the NCDD Team -
As we move through the coming week, we want you to know that our thoughts are with each of you. Elections can bring up intense emotions and challenging conversations, and we're here to encourage you to use every resource available to navigate these discussions with care, respect, and openness. At the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation, we’re committed to supporting you in fostering understanding, connection, and productive dialogue. We hope you will join us in this essential work. Whether by becoming a member, attending our events, or supporting us with a donation, you directly contribute to programs that bring dialogue and deliberation to life in communities across the nation. Your support allows us to expand our reach, develop new resources, and create spaces for the conversations that nurture democratic engagement and civic capacity. Democracy depends on each of us doing the hard work of listening, deliberating, and acting together. Dialogue and deliberation are not only tools for democratic engagement—they are at the heart of it. In a time of increasing polarization, these practices remind us of what we can achieve when we come together, connect, and collaborate. Help us strengthen the democratic foundation we all share. By supporting dialogue and deliberation, you contribute to a resilient, well-informed democracy where every voice plays a part in shaping our collective future. Take care of yourselves and each other. Warm regards, The NCDD Team
1 Comment
James Tully
11/5/2024 04:58:20 pm
Thank you. Keep up your good work in the difficult months and years to come. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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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.