Join Southern Deliberative Democracy Network in Nashville for Their First In-Person Gathering

NCDD member, Cristin Brawner, and many NCDD friends have organized the Southern Deliberative Democracy Network's (SDDN) first in-person gathering from July 17th to 19th in Nashville, Tennessee. The event will include interactive sessions, panel discussions, and open space meetings to address challenges in fostering democracy in the South. Highlights include a social evening at Assembly Food Hall, full-day activities at the Embassy Suites with breakout sessions, and planning for future collaborations. Read more in the blog post below and learn more/register here.

---

---

Release: 2024 Southern Deliberative Democracy Network Regional Gathering

Join us for the first in-person gathering of the Southern Deliberative Democracy Network (SDDN) July 17th – 19th in Nashville, Tennessee!

The event will feature insightful discussions and meaningful connections as we address the unique challenges facing the South in fostering democracy. Drawing heavily from open space concepts, the agenda will be highly interactive. We ask participants to bring their expertise, questions, and ideas to the gathering. Together, we’ll connect, learn, and plan for the future of our shared work. 

A draft overview agenda is listed below. We’ll begin with a social evening on Wednesday, July 17th at the beautiful Assembly Food Hall in Downtown Nashville. We’ll then gather all day on Thursday, July 18th at the Embassy Suites Downtown Nashville for interactive sessions, moderated panel discussions, open space, and lightly-structured networking opportunities. We’ll spend Friday in the same venue looking to the future, identifying opportunities to collaborate, and planning next steps for strengthening deliberative democracy in our region and beyond.

Have questions about the gathering? Contact Cristin Brawner at [email protected]. We hope you’ll join us! 

Southern Deliberative Democracy Network
2024 Regional Gathering, July 17th – 19th, 2024
Draft Overview Agenda

Event Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown Nashville, Nashville, TN 37203

Wednesday, July 17th
6 PM – 10 PM: Social at the Assembly Food Hall
Join us for an opportunity to connect with your fellow attendees! Grab a bite to eat from one of dozens of Nashville’s hottest restaurants in the food hall and then join us in our reserved area to socialize.

Thursday, July 18th
8:30 AM - Registration Opens, coffee & tea service
9:00 AM - Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:15 AM - Conversation & Connection, during this lightly structured session, participants will have the opportunity to connect with one another. We’ll also identify shared challenges and opportunities facing our uniquely Southern context.
10:00 AM - Break
10:15 AM - Breakout Sessions, choose from among three breakout sessions on topics and key questions related to strengthening democracy and deliberative dialogue.
11:45 AM - Break
12:00 PM - Lunch Service
12:30 PM - Plenary Panel, the plenary panel will highlight shared challenges and opportunities across the South. Panelists will also share insights from their work that provides hope for the future.
1:30 PM - Breakout Sessions, choose from among three breakout sessions on topics and key questions related to strengthening democracy and deliberative dialogue.   
2:30 PM - Refreshment Break, during the break, participants will have time to connect with one another, enjoy refreshments, and suggest themes for the open space sessions.
3:00 PM - Open Space, participants will self-select into groups to discuss topics, themes, questions, and ideas they identify. 
4:20 PM - Closing Remarks & Overview of Day 2 
4:30 PM - Adjourn, dinner on your own/Explore Nashville!

Friday, July 19th
8:30 AM - Coffee & tea service begin
9:00 AM - Reflective Activity, we’ll kick off the second day with an opportunity to reflect on why we do the work we do. We’ll share with one another what motivates us, etc.
9:30 AM - Looking to the Future: Updates from the Dialogue & Deliberation Field, we’ll hear updates from those leading efforts in the field of Dialogue & Deliberation.
10:00 AM - Looking to the Future: Next Steps for SDDN, together, we’ll plan for the future of our work and our network. We’ll also brainstorm opportunities to collaborate and work better together.
11:00 AM - Closing Reflections & Remarks, we’ll wrap up our time together by hearing from participants, we’ll set next steps, and identify commitments for the future.
11:30 AM - Boxed Lunch Service
12:00 PM - Adjourn

This is a draft agenda. All items and time frames are subject to change.

Register here: https://www.givepulse.com/event/445377-2024​