The first three years of a child’s life are a time of great opportunity, as well as risk. We can tip the scales in favor of healthy development by providing early experiences and relationships that help babies and toddlers thrive. Our failure to do so can lead to long-lasting harm to our children, communities, and economy. In order to consider ways to ensure a good start for all West Virginia’s children, the Early Childhood Advisory Council of West Virginia joined with the West Virginia Center ... (continue)

This is a video of a presentation summarizing the work of and the theory behind the Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation. It makes the case for changing the way we talk to each other about difficult issues, and summarizes the key aspects of the deliberative democracy movement. Recorded at the Poudre River Public Library District as part of a presentation of a series of democratic conversations, this “kick-off talk” was given by Martin Carcasson, a CSU Communications Professor and Director of the Center ... (continue)

On January 21, 2012 the City of Bell convened a historic bi-lingual Community Forum that brought more than forty residents together to deliberate and to offer guidance to local officials on goals and budget priorities for the 2012-13 fiscal year. This process is one of several initiatives of the new Bell City Council to restore transparent, community-focused government to Bell. Following a welcome from Mayor Ali Saleh, and short presentations on the purpose of the forum and the overview of the City’s fiscal condition, small ... (continue)

In December 2012, Alberta Climate Dialogue released a series of short videos exploring the benefits of deliberative democracy, featuring well known practitioners such as Matt Leighninger (DDC), Janette Hartz-Karp (Curtin University), Edward Andersson (Involve UK) and others. These insightful snapshots of public engagement knowledge and case studies are a valuable resource for communicating deliberative democracy ideas to others. (continue)

A documentary is available featuring a several-day-long dialogue process held in Nigeria in October 2010. 200 Muslim and Christian youth met in a safe place in Nigeria for several days of face-to-face, in-depth dialogue experiences. The women and men discovered their equal, shared humanity and that "an enemy is one whose story we have not heard." It was part of the 2nd International Conference on Youth and Interfaith Communication in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. (continue)

Dialogue: A Virtual Workshop is a FREE series of 12 videos that shares the basics of the Public Conversations Project’s approach to dialogue. From understanding the importance of participant preparation to developing the right questions to ask in a dialogue, this series illustrates PCP’s approach—and the principles behind it—via an in-depth resource that combines videos, guides, and interactive links. (continue)

This 12-minute video by Rachel S. Smith of The Grove is a great introduction to how visual/graphic recording can be done using the iPad. This practice is growing in popularity (and is becoming more and more affordable) in the graphid facilitation realm. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRJG46hUAW8. (continue)

This post includes details on a new National Issues Forums documentary film on how schools can use deliberation to uncover the best ways for them to address the achievement gap. The film will be aired on PBS stations around the country in 2011, and you can (1) request a free copy of the film and (2) help make sure your local PBS station airs the film. (continue)

"Song Of A Citizen" is a unique collaboration of thinkers and artists exploring what it really means to be a fully engaged and effective citizen in modern times -- how we-the-people are measuring up -- how we can do better -- and why we must. Song Of A Citizen's debut effort is an innovative series of online "video op-eds," featuring an array of nationally renowned political philosophers and self-governance experts (including NCDD members Martha McCoy, Carolyn Lukensmeyer and Will Friedman) -- presented in a playful and engaging visual style -- each making the case in their own compelling way. View the video op-eds at www.songofacitizen.com. (continue)

This video features AmericaSpeaks' summer 2010 national discussion on the nation's fiscal challenges. The core video is only about 6 minutes long, but included at the end are several minutes of interviews with participants and partners about their experience at the event. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfOqh_yKPR0 (continue)