This booklet, published by registered charity the Dialogue Society in 2013, brings together key insights and recommendations from a series of discussions exploring the role and value of dialogue and considering how its quality might be improved and its reach extended. The discussions brought together dialogue professionals, religious leaders, conflict resolution specialists, academics and other professionals with a wealth of relevant experience, to tackle questions such as the following: Does dialogue really extend beyond the tea-fuelled self-congratulation of a few liberal religious believers? Does it ... (continue)

Many people are reluctant to discuss politics across party lines.  This 4-page guide entitled Reaching Out Across the Red Blue Divide, One Person at a Time (available for download in PDF format) by PCP Associate and NCDD member Maggie Herzig is a step-by-step approach to inviting one other person—someone whose perspectives differ from your own—into a conversation, focusing on developing a better understanding of each other’s perspectives.  Here’s an excerpt from the guide… Why bother to reach across the divide? Many people have at least one ... (continue)

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)

Peacebuilders is a youth focused, not-for- profit, charitable organization based in Toronto, Canada. Peacebuilders was established to improve the lives of youth, by providing them with appropriate access to justice so that they are empowered to overcome personal challenges and are able to realize their full potential. The mission of Peacebuilders is to support youth and adults to manage conflict through Peacebuilding Circles. Peacebuilders programs not only help to keep young people in school and out of the criminal justice system, but also help to ... (continue)

Intentional Peer Support was developed as a grassroots, dialogue-based approach to mental health/illness. It emerged out of a desire to create community-based alternatives to the mental health system, where peers encourage and support one another to make new meaning out of their experiences via the vehicle of healthy, mutual relationships. This approach has begun to inform not only grassroots groups of peers, but also many providers, community groups and schools; it’s really about building healthy communities. (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)

This 1994 discussion guide from Everyday Democracy (then the Study Circles Resource Center) is designed to help you run a series of small-group dialogues that will enable participants to consider what they can do to prevent crime and violence in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. Resource Link: www.ncdd.org/files/etc/ConfrontingViolenceInOurCommunities-1994.pdf (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)

Why Can’t We Talk? Christian Wisdom on Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart examines the connection between Christian values and good dialogue practices.  From the author… As practitioners, we deal in process all the time. But what can we do before the process to prepare ourselves for dialogue? Why Can’t We Talk? Christian Wisdom on Dialogue as a Habit of the Heart (SkyLight Paths, November 2012) explores a wealth of strategies and resources—ancient spiritual practices, fundamental mindshifts, and “practical” steps—that can reorient our deepest ... (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)