Reflecting on 2024: Closing the Year with Gratitude and Growth

A reflection from NCDD's Executive Director, Keiva Hummel​

As we enter 2025, the NCDD team has been reflecting on all we accomplished together over the past year. While the holidays brought a welcome opportunity to rest and recharge, we are excited to take a moment to share the highlights of 2024 before diving into all that this new year has in store. Thank you for being part of this incredible community and for your continued support as we work to strengthen dialogue, deliberation, our connections and our communities!

Accomplishments in 2024

• Updated Member Map: We fully updated the NCDD Member Map to improve its functionality, allowing members to be searched based on region and area of work. This makes it easier for members to be tapped for professional opportunities and collaborations. Explore the map: ncdd.org/map.html 
• NCDD Jobs and Internship Board: We launched the NCDD Jobs and Internship Board, a centralized resource to help members connect with professional opportunities in dialogue, deliberation, and civic engagement. This board supports practitioners in advancing their careers while helping organizations find talented individuals in the field. More here: ncdd.org/dd-jobs-internship-board 
• Working Groups and Collaboratives: We launched key working groups and collaboratives this year. Learn more: ncdd.org/workinggroupsandexchanges.html 
  • Media Collaborative: This group focuses on strengthening relationships between the engagement field and journalism.
  • Higher Ed Exchange: Connecting practitioners in higher education for learning and collaboration.
  • Emerging Leaders Initiative: A space dedicated to practitioners under 35 who are newer to the field.
• Conversation Café Transition: We successfully moved the Conversation Café website and information onto the NCDD website, ensuring these vital resources are more accessible to our community. Check it out: ncdd.org/conversationcafe.html 
• Practitioner Mobilization for Democracy: After beginning development of this initiative at the start of 2024 and officially launching it in the summer, we have hosted monthly forums and a monthly Community of Practice ever since. These events connect and support practitioners in dialogue, deliberation, facilitation, and mediation to strengthen democracy and foster impactful collaboration. Dive deeper: ncdd.org/practitionermobilization.html 
  
  

Personnel Updates

• Leadership Transitions: After over five years of exceptional service as Executive Director, Courtney Breese transitioned into the role of Director Emeritus. Courtney continues to share her invaluable wisdom and insight, focusing on NCDD’s library engagement work. Keiva Hummel stepped into the Executive Director position, bringing fresh energy and vision to the coalition. With a strong background in nonprofit leadership and a deep passion for fostering meaningful connections, Keiva is excited to guide NCDD into a new chapter of growth and impact.
• New Team Members: We were thrilled to welcome Izzy Henry as Communications Coordinator, after meeting her at the 2023 NCDD conference, and Roshan Bliss returned as Director of Democracy Innovations, strengthening our work in meaningful ways.
  
  

Board Updates

• New Board Member: We are thrilled to welcome Rhonda Fitzgerald to our board. Her vibrance, knowledge, and expertise will be a tremendous asset as we grow and strengthen NCDD.
• Gratitude for Past Board Members: We extend our heartfelt thanks to Brad O’Rourke and Hollie Cost (HoCo) for their years of dedication and service on the board. Their insight and contributions have deeply impacted our coalition, and while their presence will be missed, we wish them the very best in their future endeavors.
  
  

Join or Renew Your Membership
As we look ahead to 2025, we invite you to deepen your connection to this thriving community by becoming a member of NCDD or renewing your membership. Being part of NCDD gives you access to an incredible network of innovators in dialogue, deliberation, and facilitation. 
Members benefit from:

• Access to a wealth of information and resources to support your work.
• Opportunities to connect with and learn from leaders in the field.
• Invitations to exclusive events, forums, and learning exchanges.

Your membership strengthens NCDD’s ability to provide valuable programs, foster collaboration, and drive innovation in dialogue and deliberation. Together, we can amplify our collective impact and continue to create meaningful change. Learn more and join the coalition: ncdd.org/join.html

Support the Coalition
In addition to membership, we invite you to support NCDD by making a donation. Your contributions help us pay our dedicated staff, sustain programming, and bring together even more events in the coming year. Every gift strengthens our ability to foster dialogue, deliberation, and connection across communities.
Help us build a stronger coalition by donating today: ncdd.org/donate.html 

Looking Forward
Thank you for being a part of the NCDD community. Reflecting on 2024, we are energized by the opportunities ahead to grow and strengthen our coalition.

In 2025, we are excited to focus on building our coalition membership, increasing funding to ensure NCDD is a sustainable and thriving organization, and deepening our regional organizing efforts. We also aim to expand event hosting opportunities to foster even greater collaboration and connection. Most importantly, we are working to evolve NCDD into a true coalition model, where members play an even more integral role in shaping our shared mission and impact.

​We look forward to collaborating with you in these efforts and invite you to join us in driving this vision forward. Together, we can continue to strengthen dialogue, deliberation, our democracy, and our communities.

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