​Exciting Developments at NCDD: Welcoming Our New Executive Director!

We are thrilled to announce a leadership transition at NCDD. After five years of dedicated service, Courtney Breese will step down as NCDD's Executive Director to become the Director of Community Mediation Programs at the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration. Keiva Hummel, who has been with NCDD for nearly a decade, will take over as the new Executive Director starting next week. 

In the coming months, our focus will be on strengthening our coalition, growing the membership, and securing major funding to ensure NCDD's continued growth and success. We are grateful to share that Courtney will continue to work with NCDD on ongoing projects and to ensure this smooth transition. Please read our full announcement in the blog post below!

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From Courtney:
After five years of dedicated service, I will be stepping down as the Executive Director of NCDD at the end of this week, to take on a new role as Director of Community Mediation Programs at the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration. It is time for me and for NCDD to make a transition, and I am more than thrilled to announce that Keiva Hummel will be starting as NCDD’s new Executive Director next week. 

And I’m not going anywhere! I will continue to be part of the NCDD team, supporting Keiva in this transition and working on some ongoing projects and initiatives.

It has been an absolute honor to serve as the Executive Director of NCDD and to work with such an inspiring community for more than a decade. I’m confident that Keiva will lead NCDD to new and exciting heights. I’m also looking forward to continuing our work together!

From the Board:
We want to celebrate and mark the leadership of Courtney Breese as Executive Director since 2019. As our most dedicated champion, Courtney has steered the organization through a number of inspiring conferences, built relationships, and created opportunities for members to connect, network, and expand their skills and knowledge. 

She has been instrumental in shaping programs and trainings that have broadened the reach of NCDD's important work, including our long-time partnership with the American Library Association on the Libraries Transforming Communities initiative. To say we are grateful for her tenure and delighted that she will continue to be a member and support our community is an understatement. We certainly wish her all the best as she takes on this new role.

We are overjoyed to welcome Keiva Hummel as our new Executive Director and look forward to working with her as she steers us into our next decade.

From Keiva:
I am so excited to step into the role of Executive Director and build upon the fantastic work Courtney has done. I can’t wait to collaborate even more closely with all of you to strengthen our mission of enhancing dialogue and deliberation and expanding the impact of NCDD.

For those of you who might not know me well, I’ve been with NCDD for almost a decade, collaborating closely with many of our members and colleagues. I have worked closely with Courtney over the years and have been deeply involved in our mission to foster inclusive and effective dialogue and deliberation. I’m incredibly honored to take on this new role and continue the great work we’ve all been a part of.

What’s Next:
In the coming months, I’ll be focusing on several key initiatives to ensure our continued growth and success:

1. Strengthening Our Coalition: I am committed to expanding our reach by forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones. My goal is to increase NCDD’s exposure both within our field and to wider mainstream audiences, serving the highest good of all. At the same time, I want to nourish our roots and fortify existing relationships, ensuring that we continue to be a thriving network and resource clearinghouse for dialogue, deliberation, and engagement work.
2. Growing Our Membership: Increasing our membership base is a top priority as a coalition. My goal is to further advance NCDD into a robust coalition model - improving access, inclusivity, and diversity in our community. We can enhance our collective impact by providing members with opportunities to contribute further and amplify their work. We will launch new campaigns and mobilization efforts, offering additional resources and benefits to members who are passionate about dialogue and deliberation. Join us as a member or renew your membership at www.ncdd.org/join! 
3. Securing Major Funding: We will focus on bringing significant funds to the organization to support our ambitious goals, aiming for NCDD to become a well-funded and thriving organization. Our ability to effectively mobilize resources, sustain operations, and amplify our collective impact is crucial. This will involve applying for grants, seeking sponsorships, and launching fundraising campaigns. Your support in these efforts is vital, and I warmly welcome any ideas or connections you might have to help advance our mission. Contact me at [email protected] with your thoughts.

I’m eager to hear from all of you and learn more about how we can continue to grow and thrive together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the email above – I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and any warm welcomes you’d like to share!

From Both of Us:
Thank you all for your incredible support and dedication to NCDD. Here’s to an exciting new chapter together!

All our best,
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Courtney Breese, Outgoing Executive Director
National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
[email protected]

Keiva Hummel, Incoming Executive Director
National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
[email protected]