Reminder: Join Us for Two Upcoming Free DRH–NCDD Trainings - Next One This Thursday!

NCDD and the Democracy Resource Hub invite you to join two upcoming free, virtual trainings designed for facilitators, civic practitioners, organizers, and community leaders. "Using Civic Technology to Facilitate Meaningful Engagement" takes place Thursday, January 22 (12–2 pm ET / 9–11 am PT), followed by "Facilitating Shared Sensemaking in Complexity" on Tuesday, February 3 (2–4 pm ET / 11 am–1 pm PT). These sessions feature experienced practitioners sharing real-world insights, patterns across practice, and skills participants can apply in their own work. Special thanks to SHIFT Action Lab for generously sponsoring these opportunities. Read more in the blog post below.

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The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation and the Democracy Resource Hub invite you to join us for two upcoming free, practitioner-focused trainings designed to support facilitators, civic practitioners, organizers, and community leaders working in complex and evolving contexts. All trainings require registration and are free to all.

A big thank you to the SHIFT Action Lab for sponsoring these offerings and making them free and accessible.

Next Up: Using Civic Technology to Facilitate Meaningful Engagement

Thursday, January 22
12–2 pm ET | 9–11 am PT
​Register: Click this link

Digital tools are increasingly shaping how communities connect, deliberate, and participate — but technology alone doesn’t create meaningful engagement.

This session explores how civic technology and hybrid engagement tools can support inclusive, human-centered public dialogue when paired with thoughtful design and strong facilitation. Panelists will share real-world examples, design insights, and practical lessons on using digital tools to complement facilitation and strengthen participation across diverse contexts.

Whether you’re experimenting with online platforms, supporting hybrid meetings, or curious about how tech can enhance — not replace — human connection, this session offers grounded perspectives from practitioners doing the work.

Coming Soon: Facilitating Shared Sensemaking in Complexity

​Tuesday, February 3
2–4 pm ET | 11 am–1 pm PT
​​Register: Click this link

When facts are contested, and issues are complex, communities need more than debate — they need opportunities to learn together.

This training offers a practitioner-led overview of shared sensemaking: how facilitators and civic practitioners support collective learning, deep listening, and shared understanding when certainty is elusive. Drawing on lessons from dialogue, public deliberation, and civic engagement practice, panelists will explore how groups can weigh evidence, question assumptions, and identify what’s “true enough” to act on together.

Participants will hear examples from real-world contexts and gain insights they can adapt to their own facilitation and engagement work.

About the Training Design

To make these sessions accessible to a large and diverse audience, both trainings are hosted as Zoom webinars rather than small-group workshops.

The focus is on:

• Learning from experienced practitioners
• Identifying patterns across contexts
• Highlighting facilitation and engagement skills that participants can apply in their own work

These sessions are designed to support reflection, inspiration, and practical takeaways — whether you’re new to this work or have years of experience navigating complex civic spaces.