We read a great piece recently from our friends and organizational members at the Public Conversations Project reminding us about the importance of intentionally preparing ourselves for difficult conversations and presenting new training opportunities to hone our preparedness. Dialogue, deliberation, and other forms of public engagement aren’t always about moving forward together – sometimes we have to work through heavy issues or open conflicts between groups. As Public Conversations’ Bob Stains writes in the article, if we aren’t ready for the emotions and reactions these conversations can provoke, it […] (continue)

Last week, the American Library Association (ALA) hosted a one-hour webinar titled Guides for Community Discussions: National Issues Forums (NIF) and Others designed to help public conveners find out more about issue books, videos, and other guides available to help them bring their communities together to talk in productive, civil, and interesting ways. The webinar focused specifically on the resources provided by our partners at the National Issues Forums Institute. If you missed the live webinar, don’t worry! The recording is now available online, and you can […] (continue)

This post was submitted by NCDD member Varun Vidyarthi of the Manavodaya Institute of Participatory Development via our Submit-to-Blog Form. Do you have field news you want to share with the rest of us? Just click here to submit your news post for the NCDD Blog! You’re invited to participate in a two-week program titled “People Based Development – Concept and Practice” is a unique experience in participatory development in India. It combines inputs in classroom with field visits involving direct interaction with villagers. This will be the seventeenth […] (continue)

NCDD is proud to be collaborating as a Media Partner in next week’s Online Facilitation Unconference! The Unconference is a free, fully digital convergence of folks from around the world interested in sharing and learning about virtual facilitation (i.e. facilitating and moderating online). You can read the event description below or find out more and register for the Unconference at http://ofu13.eventbrite.com. You won’t want to miss this innovative event, so make sure to register ASAP!  We’d love to see lots of NCDD members participating. The Online Facilitation Unconference is part […] (continue)

Art of Hosting Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration, near Vancouver, November 11-14, 2013 Based on Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada, Chris Corrigan and Caitlin Frost form the core partnership of Harvest Moon Consultants.  As stewards within the Art of Hosting community of practice, Chris and Caitlin bring years of facilitation and teaching experience and connections to a worldwide network of partners and friends to their work.  Caitlin Frost is a certified facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie and helps leaders become free of the […] (continue)

If you work in communications, public relations, public affairs, planning, public outreach and understanding, community development, advocacy, or lobbying, this training will help you to increase your skills and to be of even greater value to your employer. This is your chance to join the many thousands of practitioners worldwide who have completed the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) certificate training. Emotion, Outrage and Public Participation (EOP2): Moving from Rage to Reason (2 days) January 9-10, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois Please check their site at www.extraordinarytrainers.com/schedules periodically […] (continue)

This post was submitted by Cassie Hemphill via our Submit-to-Blog Form. Do you have field news you want to share with the rest of us? Just click here to submit your news post for the NCDD Blog! First time in the US! Join us in Missoula, MT, November 7 and 8 for Twyfords‘ “Collaborating in Complex Times: Advanced Stakeholder Engagement.” Register at www.collaboratingincomplextimes-estw.eventbrite.com. Go beyond traditional models of engagement. Explore ways to engage multiple stakeholders with different perspectives and strong interests in co-creating enduring solutions to complex dilemmas. Learn […] (continue)

This post was submitted by Jennifer Neumer of the Future Search Network via our Submit-to-Blog Form. Do you have field news you want to share with the rest of us? Just click here to submit your news post for the NCDD Blog! Please join us this December 9 – 11, 2013 for the Future Search Training Workshop with Sandra Janoff. Save 25% off with your NCDD discount! We offer non-profit discounts as well! Managing a Future Search – A Learning Workshop (MFS) is for facilitators, leaders, students […] (continue)

This post was submitted by NCDD supporting member Michael Culliton of Global Learning Partners via the Add-to-Blog form. NCDD folks, please Join us in Baltimore, MD, October 24-27, 2013, for the 2013 International Dialogue Education Institute! The Institute is an intensive and engaging conference for educators, facilitators, coaches, consultants, trainers, and others from around the world who are interested in Learning & Change, and in Dialogue Education. Highlights of the conference will include: Plenary keynote session on the biology of learning with Dr. Jane Vella Variety of […] (continue)

This announcement was submitted by NCDD supporting member Amy Lenzo of The World Cafe & weDialogue via the Add-to-Blog form. A World Cafe Signature Learning Program, “Hosting World Cafe: The Fundamentals” is offered in association with Fielding Graduate University. Providing a fundamental understanding of The World Café theory and method, this course applies the World Café design principles to bring forth the creative power of conversation and engage questions that matter. Participants will develop the capacity to use the World Café in their own lives and work, and […] (continue)