Slow Democracy Resources
The number of organizations and publications dealing with local, deliberative democracy is growing every day. For starters, we offer a small sampling here.
Deliberation Organizations & Resources
National Civic League
This national organization advances inclusive civic engagement and promote innovations in democracy to make decision-making more participatory, equitable, and effective. Find a wide variety of resources, publications, and events at www.nationalcivicleague.org .
National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
NCDD represents dialogue and deliberation practitioners and scholars from a wide variety of fields. NCDD hosts conferences, creates educational materials, and facilitates online and in-person professional networking, and their website features a variety of resources. www.ncdd.org
For an easy-to-use overview booklet on dialogue and deliberations processes, see the NCDD Engagement Streams Framework.
Deliberative Democracy Consortium
A network of practitioners and researchers of deliberative democracy that has developed new tools, assembled new networks, and assisted federal agencies. Listserv offers ongoing updates on the dialogue and deliberation field. Together with IAP2 (below), it publishes the Journal of Public Deliberation. www.deliberative-democracy.net
International Association for Public Participation
IAP2 is a networking, research, and advocacy organization. Among other things, IAP2 offers a certificate training course in public participation, and together with the Deliberative Democracy Consortium (above), it publishes the Journal of Public Deliberation. www.IAP2.org
National League of Cities
NLC is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. In addition to its advocacy and programs, it offers a variety of leadership and community-engagement-related studies, publications, and other resources. www.nlc.org
League of Women Voters
LWV is nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. LWV offers a wealth of resources for local LWV chapters to use in their consensus or concurrence processes, through which they research and take positions on issues. www.lwv.org
Everyday Democracy
The goal of Everyday Democracy’s programs and services is to help create communities that work better for everyone because all voices are included in public problem solving, and to link that work to creating a stronger democracy. Creator of the Study Circles dialogue and deliberation process, Everyday Democracy offers community assistance, training, and a variety of tools and techniques. Find resources at www.everyday-democracy.org.
Kettering Foundation
Kettering is a nonprofit foundation focusing on what it takes to make democracy work as it should. It does not make grants but engages in joint research. It also produces issue books and videos for the National Issues Forum deliberations. Look for the group’s research findings (books, research papers, videos) as well as its three periodicals (Connections, Higher Education Exchange, and Kettering Review) on its website. www.kettering.org
Community Heart and Soul
Community Heart and Soul is a locally led discovery process that helps small cities and towns identify the priorities, places, and traditions that matter most to the people who live, work, and play there—and turn those elements into actions to build a brighter future for current and future generations. Implementation guides and other tools are available at www.communityheartandsoul.org.
Center for Public Deliberation
Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation works with local governments and organization to elevate the quality of public discourse. Professor Martin Carcasson and his team offer resources for understanding and addressing “wicked problems.”
Bridging Divides
Learn more about understanding and convening people of opposing views from these groups:
Good Conflict — Find valuable resources, courses, and other content here from the group co-founded by Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict.
Braver Angels project works to depolarize American politics through structured conversation and workshops engaging participants with diverse perspectives.
Living Room Conversations — Resources to host small-group, liberal/conservative dialogues developed by Joan Blades, co-founder of MoveOn.org
All-America Conversations from the National Civic League, a toolkit that “provides communities with everything necessary to hold a productive and meaningful conversation – just add residents.”
Bridging Differences, an initiative of Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, offering articles, videos, podcasts and events, mixes science and storytelling to help overcome political and cultural polarization. See their Bridging Differences Playbook with skills and strategies to foster dialogue.
Guide for Conversations Across the Partisan Divide, downloadable resources created by Essential Partners
The Village Square —“A nervy bunch of liberals and conservatives who believe that disagreement and dialogue make for a good conversation, a good country, and a good time.” Resources, newsletter, blog, and events.
Make America Dinner Again — “Respectful conversation, guided activities, and delicious food shared among 6-10 guests who have differing political viewpoints, and our country's best interests at heart.” A partner of Living Room Conversations (above).
Conversation Cafe DIY tools to host dialogues “about things that really matter.”
The Bridge Alliance — A trans-partisan network of organizations (including many of those listed above) working to strengthen fair and accessible democratic engagement and governance.
Suggested resources for understanding polarization and division
Navigating Polarities: Using Both/And Thinking to Lead Transformation by Brian Emerson and Kelly Lewis (book and 4-minute introductory video)
·High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley: https://www.amandaripley.com/high-conflict and https://www.thegoodconflict.com
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit by Parker J. Palmer
The Road to Somewhere: The Populist Revolt and the Future of Politics and
Head, Heart, Hand: Why Intelligence is Over-Rewarded, Manual Workers Matter, and Caregivers Deserve More Respect
both by David Goodhart
Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times by Doug Teschner, Beth Malow, and Becky Robinson
Beyond Contempt: How Liberals Can Communicate Across the Great Divide by Erica Etelson
“Welcoming Conservatives” Village Square 101: Key tips for liberals welcoming conservative neighbors into vibrant dialogue (and new friendships)
The Science of Reasoning with Unreasonable People: Includes links to research on the science behind why we accept or reject new points of view