Democracy Rising 22: Deliberation and the Promise of Place
The good news is that when place-based wisdom informs local solutions, the solutions are all the more sustainable.
Democracy Rising
Democracy Rising 21: Looking Deliberatively at the Past
In Teaching History for the Common Good, Keith C. Barton and Linda S. Levstik recognize that the past can be used “in a variety of ways, and for a variety of purposes.” One of these is to use history’s “potential to prepare students for participation in a pluralist democracy.”
Democracy Rising 20: Deliberative Dialogue as Service Learning
Through deliberative pedagogy, students are prepared to participate in solving problems important to them and their communities.
Democracy Rising 19: Dialogue in Dixie
The literal heart of Dixie (the U.S. Deep South) is the very last place one might expect to see a community rallying around the idea of acceptance and inclusivity—especially if the community is a small town in Alabama declaring itself a safe, nurturing, and inviting space for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Democracy Rising 18: Deliberation, Free Speech, and Democracy
We all have a sense (though often only a fairly vague sense) that free speech is somehow crucial to democracy. But why should that be the case?
Democracy Rising 17: Earth Overshoot Demands Stronger Civic Infrastructure
In Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy, Tina Nabatchi and I defined civic infrastructure as “the laws, processes, institutions, and associations that support regular opportunities for people to connect with each other, solve problems, make decisions, and celebrate community.”
Democracy Rising 16: Getting Started with Dialogue and Deliberation, Part 5
As you work to create deliberative dialogues, you will face many challenges. This post looks at two of those: getting people to show up, and ensuring that participation is productive.
Democracy Rising 15: Getting Started with Dialogue and Deliberation, Part 4
Even as an ordinary citizen you can begin engaging and facilitating change by starting with dialogue right where you are, and building from there.
Democracy Rising 14: Getting Started with Dialogue and Deliberation, Part 3
What I mean by dialogue is a defined set of communication patterns that build understanding and help people of different backgrounds and experiences openly share their thoughts and work through their differences with mutual respect.
Democracy Rising 13: Getting Started with Dialogue and Deliberation, Part 2
The first step in deciding where and how to start with deliberative dialogue is to ask, what is your environment and how are you placed and rooted in it?
Democracy Rising 12: Getting Started with Dialogue and Deliberation, Part 1
And even if you are not an alliance builder, protester, organizer, or ready to take on an entire system, there is much you can do in the democratic wetlands to improve the democratic environment in ways that help support and sustain the overall work of change.
Democracy Rising 11: Doorways into Deliberation
Deliberation is key to public engagement work as well, enabling people to discuss the consequences, costs, and trade-offs of various policy options, and to work through the emotions that tough public decisions raise.
