This 2-page document was used as a handout for the workshop entitled "Collaborative Governance in Local Government: Choosing Practice Models and Assessing Experience" given by Terry Amsler, Lisa Blomgren Bingham, and Malka Kopell at the 2006 NCDD Conference. While most public involvement strategies offer positive results for all, some efforts are not as effective as sponsors and participants would like. Outlined in this two-page document are a few of the 'hot spots' where extra attention may mean the difference between success and failure. (continue)

Unchat is a web-based platform for real-time, structured and cost-effective conversation. Unchat adapts the synchronous Internet "chat" environment to civility, accountability, and deliberative democracy. Participants create their own virtual collaboration "spaces" by stocking libraries with content to use in discussion and configuring a style of moderation that is either un-moderated, moderated, or self-moderated, thereby ensuring that users share control and responsibility. (continue)

The Simple Society's Alliance for Human Empowerment is a collaboration between individuals and organizations dedicated to enabling every person to achieve their highest level of wellness, personal potential, equity, and justice. Members of the Alliance will make possible a massive outreach campaign designed to show the public, and our leaders, how to actually solve our most serious social problems. The Alliance holds free, monthly public policy forums conducted by email. (continue)

The Institute for Civility in Government is a grassroots, non-partisan, nonprofit organization which works to reduce polarization in society by focusing on the very public civility (or lack of it!) in the governing process. The Institute facilitates dialogue, teaches respect, and promotes civility. A membership organization, the Institute holds Congressional Student Forums and offers trainings in civility and advocacy. Not a think tank, and not a watch dog organization, we serve as a catalyst for change - an absolutely unique citizen movement. (continue)

Online Dialogue in a Political Context is an evaluation of a large-scale online dialogue. The two-week dialogue, produced by Information Renaissance in June 2002, brought together about 1000 people - the public, state legislators and planners - to focus on California state education policy. The evaluation covers factors such as breadth of participation, satisfaction of participants and the quality of the dialogue as a 'public space' for interaction. Interestingly, 50% of those previously less active in government and politics reported increased interest after the event. (continue)

The Annenberg Public Policy Center has been the premier communication policy center in the country since its founding in 1993. By conducting and releasing research, staging conferences and hosting policy discussions, its scholars have addressed the role of communication in politics, adolescent behavior, child development, health care, civics and mental health, among other important arenas. The Center's researchers have drafted materials that helped policy-makers, journalists, scholars, constituent groups and the general public better understand the role that media play in their lives and the life of the nation. The Policy Center maintains offices in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. (continue)

Back in 2003, there was a great conversation on the main NCDD Discussion list sparked by the question "What should we do when our most visible collaborator is perceived as liberal, yet our goals are to involve people with all ideologies?" That conversation evolved to address the all-important question "Are conservatives less interested in citizen engagement than liberals?" Here is a summary of that meaty conversation... (continue)

This Open Letter for Personal Democracy Forum (PdF) participants was written by Matt Leighninger in June 23, 2008 – right before the PdF conference. It can also be found at www.personaldemocracy.com/blog/entry/1964/an_open_letter_to_pdf_participants. Welcome to the Table of Power, Bloggers: Are you democratic revolutionaries or just another interest group? Dear bloggers, online activists, Internet advocates, and digital journalists: You’ve arrived. No matter what else happens between now and November 5th, with this election you can lay claim to a permanent place at the political table. It is ... (continue)

This article was written as part of the “Democracy Communications Network,” a 2007-2009 project that encouraged leaders in deliberative democracy to periodically write op-eds and blog posts as part of larger, collaborative media campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of quality public engagement. Use the “Democracy Communications Network” tag to see the articles  written in association with this project. This op-ed was published on Friday, October 26, 2007 in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The op-ed is also available at www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20071026_Citizens_must_bring_themselves_back_into_government.html. Putting Citizens in the Center By ... (continue)