In the months leading up to the 2014 NCDD conference, NCDD conducted a unique field mapping project as part of our collaboration with the Kettering Foundation. The project capitalized on the fact that the conference would bring together more than 400 leaders and emerging leaders in the dialogue & deliberation community, many of whom are interested in finding new ways to collaborate across organizations and sectors to have a greater impact. We had conference planning team member Kathryn Thomson (of LeaderMind Consulting and Ethelo Decisions) […] (continue)

We posted some of our favorite photos from the 2014 National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation on Facebook yesterday. About 415 amazing people came together in Reston, VA for networking, learning and field-building. So much fun! Thank you to John Daly of DalyPhotography for taking almost all of these gorgeous photos. Post by National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation. (continue)

At the 2014 NCDD conference in the DC area this past weekend, 415 leaders and emerging leaders in our field explored what they’d like dialogue and deliberation work to look like a generation from now. While it’s important to have a clear vision of the future we hope for, it is equally important to be clear about what stands in our way and devise plans for getting around those obstacles. Even if you weren’t able to attend the conference, we invite you to join conference […] (continue)

As we are watching the attendees gather today for the start of NCDD 2014 in Reston, VA, it is a sight to see. Over 400 dialogue, deliberation, and public engagement professionals are coming together to work and learn together, and we couldn’t be more excited! In the spirit of honoring all that our wonderful NCDD community represents, we wanted to share a thoughtful piece adapted from a talk NCDD Board member Susan Stuart Clark gave at San Rafael City Hall on September 26, 2014 to a local […] (continue)

Before our wonderful community starts arriving in droves for NCDD 2014, we wanted to make sure you all see a message from our  co-emcee, John Gastil. NCDD has inspired John to complete revisions on his best-selling book on democratic methods, and he’s using it to help NCDD continue our work. Read more about it below, and we’ll see in Reston this week! Serving as co-emcee of the NCDD conference spurred me to bring to the finish line a project three-years in the making. I’ve brought into […] (continue)

We know that amazing work in our field often begins with the connections made and synergies ignited during NCDD conferences, and we are so pleased to share a great example of how that happens. The piece below from NCDD supporting members Mary Thompson and Martha Cox tells the story of how, from a conversation at NCDD’s 2012 conference, the new San Diego Deliberation Network was born. We can’t wait to see what other great work will begin this week at NCDD 2014! A new twist on a collaborative model of deliberation and dialogue has emerged […] (continue)

Here’s an incentive for showing up early to get your name tag and tote on Friday morning! Registration opens at 8am. This weekend’s NCDD conference coincides with the publication of a new book called Read the Room For Real: How a Simple Technology Creates Better Meetings. The book is intended for facilitators, presenters, conference planners, or anyone who is curious about how to use increasingly accessible audience polling technology to improve meetings. We are happy to provide preview copies of the book – which include […] (continue)

We want to make sure that all of you who are attending NCDD 2014 this week know that there is going to be a dinner for past or present affiliates of our partners at the National Issues Forums Institute. Learn more in the note below from Nancy Gansender and RSVP to her. Are you an NIF moderator/facilitator? Are you part of the NIF network, past or present? Do you remember the PPIs or are you part of its successors, Centers for Civic Life? Can we talk? Let’s […] (continue)

We are excited to share an invitation from Abby Pfisterer, a member of our conference planning team, to join her for another great field trip during NCDD 2014 to Morven Park! Find out more below and read more about our field trips by clicking here or sign up here. Join us during NCDD 2014 for a field trip to Morven Park on Saturday evening and explore a hidden gem in DC’s metro area! Located in Leesburg, Morven Park is a 200 year old historic mansion that has been a home of political leaders […] (continue)

Look, we know everyone procrastinates. I do it, you do it, we all do it. But if you haven’t registered yet for the NCDD 2014 conference yet, today is your last day to get registered before the extra $100 late fee kicks in. So if you’ve been putting it off until the last minute, now is the last minute! Make sure to get registered before midnight tonight at www.ncdd2014.eventbrite.com. You wouldn’t want to miss all of our great workshops, the D&D Showcase, our brand new Short […] (continue)