The Sound of Democracy: Ismael's Takeaways from the 2025 International Listening Association Conference

The International Listening Association’s annual conference, themed “Listening S.O.N.G.” — Self, Other, Nature, and Greater Power — explored how deep, intentional listening can strengthen communities and democracy. From advocacy on Capitol Hill to grassroots dialogue on campus, participants connected listening practice with civic action. Sessions amplified marginalized voices, highlighted community-police dialogue in Elgin, and showed how listening fosters inclusion, solidarity, and problem-solving. Together, these insights offer a hopeful path for building a more connected, democratic culture. Read more in the blog post below.

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The International Listening Association's annual convention recently brought together practitioners, researchers, and advocates in Washington, DC and at the University of Maryland under the compelling theme of "Listening S.O.N.G." This thoughtfully crafted framework—representing listening across the contexts of Self, Other, Nature, and Greater Power—offered a profound lens for exploring how deep, intentional listening can transform our communities and strengthen democratic engagement.
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The conference's innovative approach to listening as both personal practice and civic tool resonated deeply with the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation's mission. By examining listening through these four interconnected dimensions, participants explored how cultivating inner awareness (Self) enhances our capacity to truly hear others (Other), while staying grounded in our natural environment (Nature) and connected to values that transcend individual perspectives (Greater Power). This holistic framework offers valuable insights for anyone working to build bridges across difference and foster genuine understanding in our communities.

From Capitol Hill to Campus: Putting Listening into Action

The convention began with a powerful demonstration of applied listening through the Pre-Convention Capitol Hill Experience, where participants engaged directly with over a dozen legislative teams about the critical importance of listening in governance and policy-making. This advocacy experience exemplified how listening skills can be channeled into civic engagement, creating space for more thoughtful and responsive democratic processes.
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The transition from the halls of Congress to the University of Maryland campus—complete with a welcome reception featuring locally-made ice cream from the university's own dairy—embodied the conference's commitment to connecting high-level civic engagement with grassroots community building. This seamless blend of formal advocacy and warm community connection reflects the same values that drive NCDD's work: the belief that democracy thrives when we create welcoming spaces for authentic dialogue and shared learning.

Voices from the Margins: Expanding Our Circle of Understanding

Among the conference's most impactful sessions were those that lifted up voices often overlooked in traditional civic discourse. Dr. Sarah Kilmer and Dr. Justine DeCamillis's presentation on listening to refugee and migrant youth in Prince George's County demonstrated how deep listening practices can center the experiences of newcomers to our communities, creating pathways for genuine inclusion and belonging.

The interactive workshop led by Everyday Democracy's Larissa Vazquez and Maggie Tarbox explored how everyday people can reclaim power through authentic dialogue, while Brooke Shaffner's conversation with four drag artivists in the US South revealed how marginalized communities use storytelling and performance as forms of survival and soul-nourishment. These sessions illuminated how listening becomes an act of solidarity, creating space for voices that have been systematically excluded from public discourse.
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The conference culminated with my presentation on dialogue as a solution through the lens of Elgin's Community Task Force on Policing—a powerful example of how structured listening and deliberation can address some of our most challenging community issues. This work, connected the work I do at the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation, Northwestern University, and my local advocacy work, demonstrating the potential for academic-community partnerships to create meaningful change through sustained dialogue processes.

​Moving Forward Together

The ILA Convention's "Listening S.O.N.G." framework offers valuable guidance for anyone committed to strengthening democratic culture through dialogue and deliberation. By attending to our inner wisdom, deeply hearing others, staying connected to our natural environment, and remaining open to transcendent values, we create conditions for the kind of transformative conversation our communities desperately need.

The conference's blend of advocacy, scholarship, and community building reflects the same spirit that drives NCDD's work—the understanding that healthy democracy requires both skilled facilitators and engaged citizens willing to listen across difference. As we face complex challenges that require collective wisdom, the practices and insights shared at this gathering offer hopeful pathways forward.
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Ready to deepen your own listening and dialogue practice? Learn more about the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation's resources and community at ncdd.org, where practitioners and advocates are working together to strengthen democracy one conversation at a time.