On June 26, 2010, thousands of Americans across the country will participate in the AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy National Town Meeting, an unprecedented national discussion on finding solutions for the budget and deficit. The National Town Meeting will take place in locations all across the country, connected live via satellite video, webcast and interactive technologies.

The purpose of this national discussion is to find common ground on tough choices about our budget. Throughout the day, Americans across the country will weigh-in on strategies to ensure a sustainable fiscal future and a strong economic recovery. The national discussion will be a chance to demonstrate that the American public can find common ground across demographic, geographic and political divides and that we as a nation can govern ourselves in a new way.

Skilled volunteer table facilitators are crucial to the success of the meeting and the work is varied, challenging, and fun. Facilitators are responsible for drawing out equal participation from their table of ten participants, focusing the group’s conversation, and holding respectful space for differences of opinion and communication styles.

AmericaSpeaks is currently recruiting table facilitators for the following Town Meeting locations:

• Albuquerque, NM
• Augusta, ME
• Casper, WY
• Chicago, IL
• Columbia, SC
• Dallas, TX
• Des Moines, IA
• Detroit, MI
• Grand Forks, ND
• Jackson, MS
• Overland Park, KS
• Louisville, KY
• Missoula, MT
• Philadelphia, PA
• Portland, OR
• Portsmouth, NH
• Redlands, CA
• Richmond, VA
• San Jose, CA

To learn more about the required skills and commitment for facilitators, go to http://usabudgetdiscussion.org/facilitators/ to apply.

Bilingual Facilitators Needed: AmericaSpeaks: Our Budget, Our Economy will include a demographically representative sample of participants. In cities with diverse populations, bilingual table facilitators may be needed.

Stipend for volunteer facilitators: Due to the generosity of the project funders, we are able to provide a $100 stipend for facilitators as a thank you and recognition for their contribution.

If you have questions about this facilitation opportunity, email Ruthann Prange at Ruthann Prange at .