This summer the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and AmericaSpeaks (www.americaspeaks.org) are organizing one of the biggest townhall meetings ever in Chicago. This event is for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). It is a town hall meeting for up to 4,000 of its members to talk about the future of this union. They are currently seeking 400 table facilitators to participate in the event. If you are willing and able to volunteer a full day of your time on Thursday, Aug 10, please contact Diane B. Burke for a facilitator application form at Fax: 202-429-1064 or Email: .

This July 19-20, 2006 Dr. Jeff Conklin will hold a workshop on Dialogue Mapping in Washington DC. This facilitation technique gets away from herding the group through a series of steps, focusing the participants instead on listening carefully, speaking clearly, and learning together about the issues and concerns they bring to the table. The facilitator/dialogue mapper engages the group with a map of their comments that he or she builds on the fly. The map is a shared display — paper taped to the wall or software projected on a screen. The “secret sauce” of dialogue mapping is the use of the Issue Based Information System (IBIS) notation: Questions, Ideas, and Pros/Cons. The IBIS framework frees the group from tyranny of agreement. Conflicting information and points of view reside next to each other in the map, reflecting the diversity of the stakeholders and the complexity of a wicked problem. Cost is $995, with significant discounts for groups of 2 or more colleagues. For more information: Email or see http://cognexus.org for more information and to register.

The Agape Foundation Fund for Nonviolent Social Change (www.agapefn.org) is a nonprofit public foundation whose purpose is to fund nonviolent social change organizations committed to peace and justice issues. The Agape Foundation’s board of trustees makes grants twice a year (in April and October) to California-based grassroots organizations working for nonviolent social change. Organizations that receive grants must be no more than five years old, with annual budgets under $100,000. For the Fall 2006 grant cycle, Agape will fund tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups that address the following issue areas: Peace — alternatives to militarism, anti-war and anti-nuclear power, weapons, and waste; Human Rights — defending civil rights, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender rights, and women’s rights; Environmental Protection — defense of the environment, ecological restoration, and environ- mental justice; Economic Justice; Racial Justice; Building economic alternatives, nonviolent conflict resolution, and alternatives to violence; Progressive Arts & Media; and Grassroots Organizing Support. The foundation also supports media activism by California-based media producers. Agape supports distribution of media projects that support grassroots organizing and promote peace and justice. Grants range from $500 to $2,000. Visit the Agape Web site for complete program guidelines and application materials. The deadline for this competition is August 1, 2006.

The Philanthrofund Foundation’s ( www.pfundonline.org ) grantmaking areas of interest are as follows: preventing discrimination and ending violence and harassment against GLBT persons; celebrating the contributions of the GLBT and allied communities and promoting visibility that will lead to greater understanding; supporting organizations that promote advocacy, education, and work aimed at achieving social and systemic change; reducing the isolation of members of the GLBT and allied communities, particularly in rural areas and small cities; building the capacity of the GLBT community to achieve the goals outlined above, including developing the philanthropy of the community. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $2,500 each. Visit the PFund Web site for complete program information and application procedures. Or click on the link below to read more about who is eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2006.
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A program of the Skoll Foundation (www.skoll.org), the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship support social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale influence on critical challenges of our time: environmental sustainability, health, tolerance and human rights, institutional responsibility, social and economic equality, peace and security. Skoll Awards provide second-round, or mezzanine, funding structured as core support in the form of grants, loans, or a combination of the two. Qualifying organizations will be led by a social entrepreneur; have implemented programs that demonstrate effective approaches to critical social and environmental challenges with global implications; have a clear, compelling plan for reaching scale by expanding or replicating their own work, and/or inspiring and supporting others to do so; identify the resources and supporters crucial to replicating and sustaining the work at scale; and commit to work with peers and the Skoll Foundation to develop and communicate success stories appealing to the enlightened self- interest of the well-off and to building support for social entrepreneurs worldwide. Upcoming deadlines for applications are: July 18, 2006; and September 18, 2006. To read more about who is eligible, click on the link below. Or visit the Skoll Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines, application, and FAQs.
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The James Irvine Foundation’s (www.irvine.org) New Connections Fund provides grants of up to $50,000 over one or two years to eligible organizations with projects that fit within the foundation’s core program priorities. One of the core priorities, called “California Perspectives,” aims to promote dialogues between under-represented communities and public officials. The program supports projects that foster dialogues between people in underrepresented communities and public officials for the dual purpose of improving public officials’ understanding of the interests and concerns of their constituents and facilitating opportunities for people in underrepresented communities to participate in public decision-making. To be considered for a grant from the New Connections Fund, an organization must meet all of the following requirements: have 501(c)(3) status or an established relationship with an approved fiscal sponsor; have a California focus; generate no more than 50 percent of its revenue from government sources; have annual revenue of at least $100,000; request a grant amount totaling no more than $50,000 or 10 percent of its annual organizational budget; and have no active grant or outstanding reports due to the foundation. Visit the Irvine Foundation’s Web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and an FAQ. The deadline for applications is August 9, 2006.

The Soros Justice Fellowship Program seeks applications from outstanding individuals, including lawyers, advocates, grassroots organizers, activist academics, journalists, and filmmakers, to implement innovative projects that address one or more of the criminal justice priorities of the Open Society Institute’s U.S. Justice Fund (www.soros.org/initiatives/justice). These fellowships may be of particular interest to NCDD researchers and practitioners involved with restorative justice, victim-offender mediation and alternative dispute resolution. The deadline for applications is September 13, 2006. Visit the OSI’s Web site for complete program guidelines and information on the U.S. Justice Fund criminal justice priorities. Click on the link below to read more about this program.
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The Aetna Voice of Conscience Award was created in memory of tennis great Arthur Ashe, Jr., a member of Aetna’s board of directors for more than ten years and chairman of the Aetna Foundation at the time of his death. The Voice of Conscience Award will be presented to a citizen/leader who emulates Arthur Ashe’s selfless commitment to education, civil rights, health, and human services. The award recognizes and celebrates the lifetime achievement of humanitarian efforts on a national level, and the winner will receive a $50,000 grant to the nonprofit(s) organization(s) of his/her choice. Characteristics of the award recipient include a desire to advance human rights, opportunity, and dignity; a commitment to serve others, regardless of personal benefit; a devotion to achieving humanitarian ideals; demonstrated accomplishments in civil rights, education, health care, and social equity; a willingness to take risks for challenging causes; and a demonstrated ability to cross boundaries of race, culture, class, faith, and ethnicity. Visit the Aetna Foundation Web site (www.aetna.com/foundation/) for an online nomination form as well as information on past winners. Deadline for applications: July 15, 2006.

The Chinook Fund (www.chinookfund.org) was established in 1987 to support the efforts of grassroots groups working for peace, human rights, and economic justice through social change in Colorado. The Chinook Fund is committed to the transformation of society into one that promotes social justice and freedom from oppression, including but not limited to racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, and ableism. All successful applicants must be based in communities of color, low-income communities, or other oppressed communities; have leadership that reflects that constituency; have a decision- making process that incorporates input from all members; and be able to demonstrate that their work will lead to change for their community. Visit the Chinook Fund Web site for complete program information and application procedures. To read more about who is eligible, click on the link below.
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Through partial funding from the US Department of Justice, Youth Service America (www.ysa.org) and Youth Venture, Inc. (www.youthventure.org) are teaming up again to make every day National & Global Youth Service Day (www.ysa.org/nysd). The program is giving young people the opportunity to create sustainable National Youth Service Day projects for N&GYSD 2007,April 20-22. YSA and Youth Venture are offering funding to enable young people to engage in community service and make a difference in their world. Thirty awards of up to $1,000 in start-up funds will be available to young people (ages 12-20) who want to create new, sustainable, and civic-minded organizations, clubs, or businesses (“ventures”). These ventures must be youth-led and designed to be a lasting asset to the community. YSA Youth Venture teams are required to plan a N&GYSD project every year that their venture is operational. For complete program information, visit the YSA Web site. Deadline: July 24, 2006.

The New York Public Library’s (www.nypl.org/research/general/scholars.html ) Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers is an international fellowship program open to people whose work will benefit directly from access to the collections at the NYPL Humanities and Social Sciences Library — including academics, independent scholars, and creative writers (novelists, playwrights, poets). Renowned for the extraordinary comprehensiveness of its collections, the Humanities and Social Sciences Library is one of the world’s pre-eminent resources for study in anthropology, art, geography, history, languages and literature, philosophy, politics, popular culture, psychology, religion, sociology, and sports. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. The center appoints fifteen fellows a year for a nine-month term (September through May) at the library. In addition to working on their own projects, the fellows engage in an ongoing exchange of ideas within the center and in public forums throughout the library. A Cullman Center Fellow receives a stipend of $50,000 to $55,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the library’s physical and electronic resources. Fellows work at the center for the duration of the fellowship term. See the NYPL Web site for complete program guidelines, an application form, and information on past and current program fellows. Deadline: September 29, 2006.

Public Conversations Project is inviting Boston-area NCDD colleagues to join them in welcoming Cherry Muse, the Public Conversations Project’s new executive director, at an Open House on Tuesday, June 27th from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Refreshments will be served. If you plan to attend please RSVP to Christie Wren at 617-923-1216 ext 23 or email . The gathering will be held at the Family Institute of Cambridge, 51 Kondazian Street, Watertown MA (across the street from the Public Conversations Project). For directions, visit:
www.publicconversations.org/pcp/index.asp?page_id=170&catid=65.

The Deliberative Democracy Consortium (DDC) – Sandy sits on their Executive Committee – is beginning a search for a new Executive Director. This is a one-year full-time position (July 2006 – July 2007), and the new Director will spend much of their time grantwriting in order to ensure that the Consortium – and the position – exists and thrives after the year is up. Applicants need not live in the Washington DC area, but are expected to spend at least one week a month in DC. You can learn more about the Consortium at www.deliberative-democracy.net . Click below for the job description and application instructions.
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This July, Brooklyn Nonviolent Communication and New Yorkers for a Department of Peace will be offer the “Zen and the Art of Conflict” a course in Nonviolent Communication. Taking place four consecutive Sundays starting July 9, the course will meet from 1-6 pm with child care available (for those who request it in advance). This popular course gives a new way to view conflict, as an opportunity for connection and authenticity. The course fee is on a sliding scale (from $275-$400) and some work exchange and payment plans are available. Pre-registration is required and no prior training in Nonviolent Communication is needed. For more information about the course and to register, visit www.BrooklynNVC.org, email or call 718-797-9525.

The Perspectives Group (www.theperspectivesgroup.com) has just announced they only have three remaining training dates for their IAP2 Certificate Program in Public Participation. Spaces in the five-day course are still available for all the training dates in Alexandria, VA on July 10 � 14, September 18 � 22, and December 4 � 8. The full week of training is $1,475, or $295 per day. The Course is broken up into 3 sections: Planning for Effective Public Participation (two days), Effective Communication for Public Participation (one day), and Techniques for Public Participation (two days). Please note that the Planning course is a prerequisite to the Communications and Techniques courses. For additional information, go to www.theperspectivesgroup.com/resource/trainingpro.html to download the brochure. If you have any questions, contact Crystal Sarno or Kristie Bergeron-Hale at The Perspectives Group at 703-837-1197 or email .