We found this description of the “Circle Process” here on the Art of Hosting website. The circle, or council, is an ancient form of meeting that has gathered human beings into respectful conversation for thousands of years. The circle has served as the foundation for many cultures. What transforms a meeting into a circle is the willingness of people to shift from informal socializing or opinionated discussion into a receptive attitude of thoughtful speaking and deep listening and to embody and practice the structures outlined here. (continue)

Citizen engagement has become increasingly important in the last ten years, but we have barely scraped the surface of what innovative public engagement can do for public services, communities and citizens. Part of what is holding us back is outdated myths about citizen engagement. “From Fairy Tale to Reality: Dispelling the Myths around Citizen Engagement” is a collaborative venture by Involve and the RSA. The pamphlet debunks common misconceptions of public engagement such as fears of spiralling costs and dwindling prospects of success, and provides ... (continue)

This 6-page resource developed by the Orton Family Foundation guides you through six steps to help you identify and map key community networks and stakeholder groups and identify how to reach them. Community Network Analysis (CNA) is a powerful tool for understanding who lives, works and plays in your community and how best to reach them. It’s meant to be used repeatedly to identify: 1) project leadership, 2) partners and 3) participants. (continue)

This model ordinance was designed to be used and adapted by local governments, and to help local leaders begin to update and strengthen the legal framework for public participation. The ordinance was produced by the Working Group on Legal Frameworks for Public Participation. Matt Leighninger, executive director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, can be contacted with questions at mattl@deliberative-democracy.net. The model ordinance, which consists of three sections (Definitions, Public Participation Policy, and Principles for Public Participation) describes “public participation” (inclusive of the terms public comment, public hearing, public engagement, ... (continue)

On February 1, 2013, National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) released an Issue Advisory that contains materials that communities might wish to use in deliberating over the issues raised by the tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012. This “issue advisory” is not a full NIF issue guide, but a basic outline of the options, entitled How Can We Stop Mass Shootings in Our Communities? It can be downloaded here. The 4-page issue advisory was written by NCDD member Brad Rourke, a Kettering Foundation program officer. (continue)

Everyday Democracy welcomes you to use and adapt this one-page tip sheet freely. The tip sheet lists ideas on how you might organize a one-day event on school violence. The summit they describe is intended to help a community address the issue, but also lay the groundwork for a long-term citizen involvement effort. Contact Everyday Democracy if you would like to organize this kind of an event with their help. Visit www.everyday-democracy.org for more details. Resource Link: http://ncdd.org/rc/wp-content/uploads/EvDem-OrganizingASummitOnSchoolViolence.doc (Word doc download) (continue)

These norms from Garmston Wellman build group energy, commitment, and effectiveness. Pausing. Not all brains work at the same rate or use the same processes. There are four types of pauses: 1) after a question, 2) after someone speaks, 3) personal reflection time, and 4) the collective pause (structured or spontaneous). Pausing, then paraphrasing are two steps that set up deeper types of discussion. Paraphrasing. To help the group be as receptive as possible, avoid using “I” as you paraphrase. Instead, try using the following openers: (continue)

The National Issues Forums Institute’s website includes a dedicated section devoted to sharing resources and information on deliberation programs for educators and the students they work with. Section description from the National Issues Forums Institute website… This is a space where educators of all kinds can learn more about deliberation and its use in the classroom and other educational communities. It is a place to connect with each other, to share your experiences and to learn how deliberation has been integrated into K-12 curriculum, after school ... (continue)

On October 12, 2012, the newly launched Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center (DDNRC) issued the National Difficult Dialogues Movement Declaration. The mission of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center (DDNRC) is to advance innovative practices in higher education that promote respectful, transformative dialogue on controversial topics and complex social issues, thereby reflecting a commitment to pluralism and academic freedom and strengthening a democratically engaged society. (continue)

Here’s a great resource from our friends at Project for Public Spaces (PPS), outlining the qualities of successful public spaces.  PPS is NCDD’s fellow partner in CommunityMatters. Learn more about PPS’s approach to community building and design at www.pps.org. Great public spaces are where celebrations are held, social and economic exchanges take place, friends run into each other, and cultures mix. They are the “front porches” of our public institutions – libraries, field houses, neighborhood schools – where we interact with each other and government. When the ... (continue)