3/2/06 - dialogue & deliberation news and opportunities

[Sandy]

Hi, everyone! Many of you have told us that you?’ve been missing these monthly updates, and I?’m happy to say that we?’ve found a way to make them happen from our new place. Let me know if there?’s a problem with how you?’re receiving these messages. We?’re still getting used to the system, but wanted to get this message out.

The Dialogue & Deliberation Community does not rest?…and neither do we at NCDD. Look over this message to stay up-to-date on the goings-on in this rapidly growing field.

- 2006 National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation -
NCDD has a national conference coming up in San Francisco this August 4-6! Registration forms, presenters applications, scholarship applications, etc. will all be online soon, but now?’s the time to let me know if you?’d like to be involved in this year?’s planning process, or if you?’d just like to be kept informed as plans progress. I?’ll include the current conference announcement below so you have more details. Please share the announcement with your networks!

- Look Up Your Colleagues -
Use NCDD?’s online membership database to find a facilitator, consultant, or colleague near you: http://www.thataway.org/members/members_db/index.php. If you are involved in dialogue & deliberation and would like to be included, you?’re welcome to join NCDD (click on Join at the top of any page at www.thataway.org).

- Featuring Your Work at www.Thataway.org -
NCDD is in the process of replacing our massive Resources section with a database-driven Learning Exchange. The user-friendly Learning Exchange will feature what?’s on the site now (organizations, links, books, models descriptions, etc.) as well as LOTS of new stuff (articles, case studies, project reports, dissertations). We?’ll be launching with well over 1000 resources in the database! If you?’d like to see your work included (in full or linked to elsewhere), email me with bibliographic info, a description, and either the document or instructions for people to download or purchase the resource. Our goal is to create and maintain the most comprehensive, up-to-date compilation of resources on dialogue and deliberation anywhere.

- NCDD?’s New Address -
Please update NCDD?’s address in your records. Andy and I (and NCDD headquarters) are now based out of Pennsylvania, just two hours?’ drive from DC. Our new address is below.

- What?’s Happening in the Field -
And of course, here are the headlines for the latest posts to our Happenings blog, at http://www.thataway.org/news. If you?’ve gotten out of the habit of checking the blog, use the categories in the sidebar to find out about funding opportunities, calls for proposals and articles, upcoming events, and more!

- New Discussion Guide on End-Of-Life Decisions Published by NIF
- Midwest Social Forum Calls for Session Proposals
- Perspectives Group to Offer IAP2 Certified Training
- IAP2 Seeks Editor for Online Journal
- AmericaSpeaks Seeking Facilitators and Participants for California Dialogues
- Update on SFU's Dialogue Activities
- One World Training in Deliberative Dialogue Coming Up
- Participants Sought for Dialogue on Religion and the Academy
- CIRCLE Releases Report on Sports and Youth Civic Engagement
- IAP2 Calls for Conference Session Proposals
- Cleveland Foundation Announces Fellowship for Civic Leaders
- Art of Facilitation Workshop Coming Up in Boulder, CO
- Taos Institute Publishes New Book on Appreciative Inquiry
- New Manager's Guide to Public Deliberation Released by IBM
- Intercultural Communication Courses Offered in Davis, California
- Open Society Institute Announces Katrina Media Fellowships
- Baltimore Community Foundation Invites Applications for Neighborhood Grants Program
- Dialogue Facilitators and Diversity Trainers Sought for Interviews
- MetLife Foundation Funding Community Police Partnership Awards Program

I hope this message finds all of you in good spirits. Good luck with all you do!

Best,
Sandy

Sandy Heierbacher
Director, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD)

Web: www.thataway.org
Email:
Phone: 717-243-5144
Address: 114 W. Springville Road, Boiling Springs, PA 17007


Don?’t Miss the 2006 National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation

The 2006 NCDD conference will take place in San Francisco, California August 4-6, with pre-conference trainings on Thursday, August 3rd. If you are dedicated to solving group and societal problems through honest talk, quality thinking and collaborative action, we invite you to join us at this innovative gathering. The conference will be held at the Renaissance Parc 55, a beautiful hotel in the heart of downtown San Francisco.

Founded in 2002, the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is a vibrant network of over 500 organizations and individuals who, collectively, regularly engage and mobilize millions of people across the globe around today's critical issues. NCDD?’s national conferences and resource-rich website (at www.thataway.org) are crucial to the development of this emerging field of practice.

NCDD brings together dialogue and deliberation practitioners, scholars, trainers, artists, activists, teachers and students from all of the various streams of practice that exist in this emerging field. The main focus of NCDD conferences is to encourage conference attendees and planners, together, to continue developing this important, growing field of practice. Networking, experiencing different methods, sharing learnings, hearing from leaders in the field, learning about new research, exploring key issues facing the field?—all of these are field-building activities, and all are given a place at the gatherings.

Martha McCoy, Executive Director of the Study Circles Resource Center, says ?“NCDD has cultivated a broad and emerging field by making it possible for diverse threads of practice to learn from each other. Its mode of working is respectful, inclusive, and practitioner-oriented. Everyone who believes that dialogue and deliberation are key to transforming people, relationships, and society--including political systems--can benefit from being part of NCDD and its next conference.?”

What can you expect from the 2006 National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation?

- Highly participatory plenary sessions that allow you to experience large-group dialogue and deliberation methods while enabling the community to explore issues relevant to the field
- Quality workshops that enable you to focus on the issues, challenges, and questions most relevant to your work
- Numerous opportunities throughout the gathering to experience how the arts (graphic, performing, etc.) can enhance dialogue and deliberation
- Formal, informal, and self-organized opportunities to network and develop relationships with others who do dialogue and deliberation work or research
- Opportunities to learn from and be inspired by established leaders in the field, highly innovative efforts initiated in the San Francisco Bay area, young people who are enthusiastic about this work, and more.

NCDD?’s conferences are accessible, with registration fees starting at just $300, and with over $20,000 already earmarked for scholarships. The 2006 conference is funded, in part, by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Whitman Institute, and by leading dialogue and deliberation organizations.

Our conferences are planned collaboratively by people with all levels of experience in dialogue & deliberation. If you?’d like to be part of the conference planning process, or if you?’re interested in attending, presenting a workshop, offering a pre-conference training, exhibiting, co-sponsoring, or just staying informed as planning progresses, email conference director Sandy Heierbacher at and let her know.

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Some nice things people said about the 2002 and 2004 conferences?…

?“The 2002 NCDD conference was the most amazing conference I've ever attended?…. This is a big diverse field, bubbling with vitality. And NCDD is bringing it all together.?”
- Tom Atlee, Founder of the Co-Intelligence Institute

?“You all were amazing -- I?’ve never had a more exhilarating experience at a conference. Nourishing to mind, body and soul!?”
- one participants?’ comments on the 2004 conference satisfaction survey

?“I just wanted to let you know what an amazing conference it was in Denver. It deepened my understanding of D&D and I met many wonderful people. I believe events like this help strengthen and grow, not only the D&D community, but the work of conflict resolution and democracy world-wide. It was the best organized conference I have ever attended. You and those that helped you did an amazing job.?”
- Stephan Gilchrist, Portland State University

?“I must say that my attending the national conference this past fall was life altering. The conference really gave me a sense of direction and purpose for the work I?’d like to do as well as the vision I have for a more just and sustainable world.?”
- Matt de Caussin, Intern, Denver District Attorney?’s Office

?“Thank you for putting on such an amazing conference. I thought the conference was absolutely phenomenal. I learned a lot, and I think even more importantly, realized that I am / we are part of a community!?”
- Priya Parker, Sustained Dialogue Campus Network

?“I met more people that I will follow up with at this conference than any in my 30 years of professional experience.?”
- Stephanie Nestlerode, Omega Point International, Inc.

?“Thank you for the incredible work you are doing in creating opportunities for those of us involved in this work to meet, communicate and inspire one another in so many ways.?”
- Glenna Gerard


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NCDD brings together and supports people, organizations, and resources in ways that expand the power of discussion to benefit society. Dialogue and deliberation help people bridge gaps, make better decisions, take collective action, and become more active citizens. Dialogues are powerful personal experiences that often lead to careful deliberation and collaborative action or policy recommendations.

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