NCDD Member Craig Neal, Co-Founder of Center for Purposeful Leadership Co-Founder, Honored for Climate Action

NCDD Member, Craig Neal, co-founder of the Center for Purposeful Leadership, was recently honored with the "Good Ancestor" award by the Twin Cities chapter of Elders Climate Action for his lifelong dedication to community-building and climate leadership. From spearheading sustainable urban agriculture to fostering dialogue that leads to collaborative solutions, Neal exemplifies the power of purpose-driven leadership. His recognition underscores how NCDD members are helping communities tackle climate challenges through inclusive engagement and meaningful action. Read more in the blog post below.

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​The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD) is pleased to highlight the recent recognition of one of our valued community members. Craig Neal, co-founder of the Center for Purposeful Leadership, was recently honored with the "Good Ancestor" award by the Twin Cities chapter of Elders Climate Action for his exemplary work in community engagement and sustainable practices.

Recognizing Those Who Think Beyond Themselves

Elders Climate Action, a national organization founded in 2014 to mobilize elders around climate change issues, presents the Good Ancestor award to individuals who demonstrate a lifelong commitment to climate action and community building. The Twin Cities chapter, established in 2020, uses this recognition to highlight those with "a lifelong pattern of thinking beyond themselves," according to chapter leader Kathryn Ringham.
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Neal was one of three recipients honored during a ceremony on September 26, 2025, alongside Paul Thompson and Melvin Giles, two other distinguished community leaders with impressive records of environmental advocacy.

Bringing People Together Through Urban Agriculture

Neal was nominated by Paul Thompson, chair of the Twin Cities chapter's legislative team, who wanted to highlight Neal's commitment to bringing people together through sustainable practices. "He's really been a champion to get urban agriculture on a real local basis," Thompson noted. "It's really quite remarkable."
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In his Linden Hills neighborhood, Neal and his wife Patricia operate a community-sponsored garden that provides food and flowers for 13 families—a total of 53 people. Families purchase shares to support supplies and volunteer their time to help with cultivation. Weekly harvests run from May through October, creating a sustainable cycle of local food production.

A Model for Reducing Environmental Impact

What makes Neal's approach particularly noteworthy is his focus on minimizing environmental impact. "Everybody has to walk to get their share every week, so they're not driving," Neal explained. "We're not driving from a farm out of the city. Everything that leaves our garden comes back to us, except what's eaten. So everything's reused."
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This closed-loop system demonstrates the practical application of dialogue and deliberation principles that NCDD champions—bringing people together around shared goals and creating systems that benefit both community members and the environment.

The Center for Purposeful Leadership

As co-founder of the Center for Purposeful Leadership, an organizational member of NCDD, Neal brings the same community-focused approach to his work facilitating dialogue and creating spaces for meaningful conversation. The Center specializes in convening and hosting conversations that matter, helping organizations and communities develop collaborative leadership approaches.
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Their work exemplifies how dialogue and deliberation professionals can contribute to building more sustainable communities—not just through environmental practices, but through creating the social infrastructure that supports collective action on pressing issues like climate change.

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Elders Taking Action

The Twin Cities chapter of Elders Climate Action holds monthly meetings with climate speakers, advocates for climate legislation, gives presentations at schools and libraries, and works to inform people about climate action. Their recognition of Neal's work highlights the important intersection between dialogue, community building, and environmental sustainability.

As our climate challenges grow increasingly complex, the role of dialogue and deliberation practitioners becomes even more vital. NCDD members like Craig Neal and the Center for Purposeful Leadership demonstrate how bringing people together through thoughtful conversation can lead to practical, community-centered solutions.
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For more information about the Center for Purposeful Leadership and their work, visit www.centerfpl.org.
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For more information about the Elder Climate Action and their work, visit www.eldersclimateaction.org/twincities/.

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The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is a network of innovators who bring people together across divides to discuss, decide, and take action together effectively on today's toughest issues. We serve as a gathering place, a resource center, a news source, and a facilitative leader for this vital community of practice.