w. 2005 08 (aug)
UN Conference Seeks Input on Declaration on Community Engagement
The inaugural United Nations International Conference on Engaging Communities will be held on 14 - 17 August 2005 in Brisbane, Australia (www.engagingcommunities2005.org). There are plans to develop a UN Declaration on Community Engagement at the conference. To assist this development the conference organizers are conducting a brief engagement process prior to, and at, the conference itself. They are seeking input on a UN Declaration or Charter for Community Engagement. Please consider filling out a very brief online questionnaire (three questions) to help in this process. To access the questionnaire, visit http://www.darzinsurveys.com/ds/index.asp?CX=ICEC&SX=IAP2. Please fill out the questionnaire before Wednesday 10 August. And feel free to let others know about this questionnaire. If you do plan on sending it to others, please send a brief e-mail to Allison Hendricks at with the following information:
* Name of group or network (if appropriate) - for example America Speaks
* Number of people you are sending it to
* Country of recepients (if the people you are sending it to are mostly in one country, then just nominate that one. If there are big groupings then just nominate a rough percentage such as 50% Australia, 50% New Zealand).
A draft version of the Declaration will be posted on the conference website on Friday 12 August, so check out the site if you wish to review the draft document prior to the conference. Some conference sessions will also be live audiocast and electronic discussion forums set up - please check the conference website for more details closer to the start of the conference.
Added by Amy Lang on August 05, 2005??-??Link to this entry
News From the Dialogue Program at SFU
Lots of things are happening this summer at the Dialogue Makers' Program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. First, their Dialogue Maker's Series brochure is now available online. Designed for facilitators, mediators, planners, educators, researchers, administrators and managers who are responsible for convening dialogue on complex and potentially divisive issues, this Series discusses ways to live together amid difference in a way that is peaceful, respectful and inclusive. To download the brochure, visit www.sfu.ca/dialogue/dialoguemakers_web.pdf. The Series begins with a Showcase launch on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. From 5-9 pm in the downtown Vancouver Harbour Centre, the launch will cover a variety of methodologies and contexts in which dialogic principles can be applied. Cost is $75, and discounts are available. Call 604.268.7925 or see page 3 of the pdf brochure listed above. To get a taste of the Dialogue Programs organized at SFU, tune into their campus radio station CJSF this summer at 90.1 FM in the Vancouver lower mainland, or online at www.cjsf.bc.ca/ (MP3 streaming). For a list of Dialogue Program talks that will be aired, click on the link below.
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Added by Amy Lang on August 04, 2005??-??Link to this entry
New Community Resource Management Grants Available
Sand County Foundation's Community Based Conservation Network has just announced a new grant program. Scholars, practitioners and landholder communities are invited to submit proposals to test and assess innovative ways to overcome constraints associated with land rights and resource values. SCF is offering grants in the range of $10,000 - $20,000 to demonstrate and assess Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) innovations. Awards will be available from September 2005. Individuals or organizations working in CBNRM in North America or eastern and southern Africa are invited to apply; special consideration will be given to proposals submitted by or on behalf of Lake Associations in 2005. To read the complete request for proposals visit www.sandcounty.net/programs/cbcn/search/. Send your proposal to Kevin McAleese at by 31 August 2005.
Added by Amy Lang on July 28, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Roundtable To Focus On Using Dialogue in Neighborhood Revitalization Projects
NeighborWorks Training Institute® and the Study Circles Resource Center are offering a full-day roundtable on Aug. 24 in Washington, D.C., on ?“Issues and Problem-Solving: Community-wide Dialogue as Part of Your Revitalization Strategy.?” Matt Leighninger and Sally Campbell of the Study Circles Resource Center will lead the roundtable discussion, which will focus on the challenges and opportunities that arise when you are recruiting participants and supporting action efforts at the neighborhood level. They invite participation from anyone who has organized study circles or any other dialogue & deliberation process as part of neighborhood revitalization projects (or even in venues other than neighborhoods). Register at www.nw.org and sign up for course number NR248 ROUNDTABLE.
Added by Amy Lang on July 20, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Peace Camp for Youth Coming Up in Vancouver, BC
Peace it Together is a five-day summer camp that will empower young leaders to use arts, outdoor adventure and deep dialogue as tools for education, self-expression, and social change. It runs August 24-28, 2005. The camp is organized primarily, but not exclusively, for Muslim, Arab and Jewish youth. The camp invites applications from mature and creative youth, 14-17 years old, who are interested in learning about people whose backgrounds differ from theirs and are committed exploring ways to end racism in their communities. The cost of the camp is $150 and fundraising assistance is available. For more information or to apply online visit www.creativepeacenetwork.ca, email or call Ranza at 604.732.1612. The due date for applications is July 15.
Added by Amy Lang on July 05, 2005??-??Link to this entry
National Conference of State Legislatures Meeting Coming Up in Seattle, WA
Les Ihara, NCDD member and a Hawaii State Senator just informed us about the upcoming annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures (www.ncsl.org) that will be held in Seattle, WA from August 16-20. Over 3000 state legislators are expected to attend the conference, presenting a great opportunity for networking. Les himself will be speaking on a Hawaii collaborative project on genetically modified organisms on Wed Aug 17 at 12:00 noon. Two other conferences will be held in conjuntion with the NCSL: the National Association of Public Affairs Networks [pages.cthome.net/cpan/napan] and the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors [www.capitolbeat.org]. For more information on NCSL workshops that might be of interest to NCDD members, click the link below.
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Added by Amy Lang on July 01, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Nonviolent Communication Workshop Series Coming Up in El Cerrito, CA
NCDD member Sharda Miller has just announced she will be offering a nonviolent communication-afternoon series this summer. The workshops will be an introduction to Marshall Rosenberg?’s Nonviolent Communication (NVC). NVC offers specific skills that lead to heartful, honest and authentic communication without blame or judgment. The class will be small in order to allow plenty of time for sharing and practice. It is scheduled for Mondays, July 11, 18, 25 and August 8, from 2:30-4:30 in El Cerrito. Cost is $100 for the 4 afternoon series. Email Sharda at or call 510-435-2327 if you have any questions.
Added by Amy Lang on June 21, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Workshop on Non-Violent Communication Coming Up in Cambridge, MA
"Creating Compassionate Families & Schools" is a weekend workshop from August 12-14, co-sponsored by Nonviolent Communication Boston, Cambridge Peace Commission, the Center for Peaceable Schools at Lesley University, and the Institute for Peaceable Communities. The focus of the workshop is learning and practicing the consciousness and skill-set of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), as developed by Marshall Rosenberg. Teachers, school administrators, parents and child-care workers are encouraged to attend. Tuition is $175 for full weekend, $145 for full weekend with early registration discount (registration form & payment received by July 1), and $100 for Friday night and Saturday sessions only. For more information visit the NVC Boston Website: www.nvcboston.org.
Added by Amy Lang on June 16, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Roundtable on Study Circles and Neighbourhood Revitalization Coming Up in Washington, DC
NeighborWorks Training Institute® and the Study Circles Resource Center are offering a full-day roundtable on August 24 in Washington, D.C., on ?“Issues and Problem-Solving: Community-wide Dialogue as Part of Your Revitalization Strategy.?” SCRC will lead the roundtable discussion, which will focus on the challenges and opportunities that arise when recruiting participants and supporting action efforts at the neighborhood level. Anyone who has organized study circles as part of neighborhood revitalization projects or on other issues is particularly encouraged to participate. Early registration ends July 11. Register at www.nw.org.
Added by Amy Lang on June 13, 2005??-??Link to this entry
UN's Int'l Conference on Engaging Communities Coming up in August
An initiative of the United Nations and Queensland (Australia) Government, the International Conference on Engaging Communities will take place in Queensland August 14 through 17, 2005. This event will explore all issues related to community engagement and address the experiences, challenges and research which effect all citizens, governments and organizations alike. The program is designed to interest representatives from community groups, academia, government agencies, corporations, associations and the like. Go to www.engagingcommunities2005.org for more details about this important event.
Added by Sandy Heierbacher on June 07, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Corporation for Positive Change Announces Three New Training Opportunities
The Corporation for Positive Change (CPC) has a great workshop lineup coming up. From August 2-5, the CPC will hold a Spiritual Retreat for Change Agents in Taos, NM. From October 12-14 the CPC presents a workshop Appreciative Inquiry in Action in Boulder, CO. And, from December 5-8, in Naples, FL, the CPC offers its Appreciative Leadership Development Program. For information and to register contact Corporation for Positive Change at 505-751-1232 or email: . Click below for details on each workshop.
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Added by Amy Lang on June 05, 2005??-??Link to this entry
Fielding Announces 2nd "Dialogue, Deliberation & Public Engagement" Course
Fielding Graduate University just announced its second certificate course in Dialogue, Deliberation and Public Engagement. Several NCDD members participated last year, and I heard some great things about the course. I?’m hoping to participate this year myself, since this is a non-conference year. There is an information conference call about the course scheduled for May 11, 2005 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. This 16-week primarily online course begins on August 29. Click below for the full announcement.
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