How to Facilitate Conversations on Public Issues

Across the United States and throughout the world, innovative civic practitioners are bringing people with diverse views together for deliberative discussions of public issues that impact their lives.

People are crossing traditional barriers to listen deeply, think critically, and create foundations for constructive public work. In this session, we’ll examine these practices while sharing insights and resources from the National Issues Forums Institute.

This conversation will be a hands-on and pragmatic follow-up to our Learning Circle on Tuesday, April 26th, which will provide a big-picture overview of the National Week of Conversation.

Participants will also have the opportunity to experience these practices in action by engaging in a deliberative forum on encouraging and safeguarding voting on Thursday, April 28th.

Presenter: Betty Knighton, President of the National Issues Forums Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes nonpartisan public deliberation and democratic decision-making.