Solving Problems Togethercmsadmin2021-02-08T18:37:38+00:00

Solving Problems Together

Citizens have been getting better at democratic problem solving at the same time that our larger political institutions have become less capable of solving the big problems facing our society. With the help of a number of creative organizations, millions of Americans are developing impressive and effective problem-solving tools and skills.

Websites

National Conversation Project

The National Conversation Project is mending the frayed fabric of America by bridging divides one conversation at a time.

The Bipartisan Policy Center

The Bipartisan Policy Center promotes health, security, and opportunity for all Americans by fostering bipartisanship and combining ideas from both parties.

The Deliberative Democracy Consortium

The Deliberative Democracy Consortium is an alliance of leading organizations and scholars working in the field of public engagement, participation, and deliberation.

National Issues Forums Institute

The National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves to promote public deliberation about difficult public issues. Its activities include publishing issue guides and other materials used by local forum groups, encouraging collaboration among forum sponsors, and sharing information about current activities in the network.

Since 1998, Engaged Public has worked with elected officials, civic leaders, and citizens to create actionable public policy. Engaged Public’s mission is to bridge people and policy through meaningful, productive dialogue and other innovative tools.

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD) is a network of innovators who bring people together across divides to discuss, decide, and take action together effectively on today’s toughest issues.

Resetting the Table

Resetting the Table (RTT) is dedicated to strengthening democracy and civic life by equipping leaders and communities to deliberate across political silos to address important public problems.

Books

Collaborative Governance: Principles, Processes, and Practical Tools

Stephen Greenwood, Laurel Singer, Wendy Willis

Guns, An American Conversation

Spaceship Media

The Ecology of Democracy

Democracy in Motion: Evaluating the Practice and Impact of Deliberative Civic Engagement

Tina Nabatchi, John Gastil, Matt Leighninger, and G. Michael

The Reunited States of America: How We Can Bridge the Partisan Divide

Journal of Deliberative Democracy

Hosted at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra.

Coming to Public Judgment: Making Democracy Work in a Complex World

Daniel Yankelovich

With the People: An Introduction to an Idea

Articles

How Americans can learn once again to solve our nation's problems together

Naming and Framing Difficult Issues to Make Sound Decisions: A Cousins Research Group Report on Democratic Practices

A Public Voice That’s Missing: A Cousins Research Group Report on The Public and the Government

Working Through Difficult Decisions

Kettering Foundation

Public Deliberation in Democracy

Kettering Foundation

Media

Politically opposed groups find common ground through conversation

Mark Strassmann

The Reunited States

The Reunited States is a feature documentary that profiles people who have dedicated their lives to promoting depolarization and de-escalation of our tensions across the political divide.

Hosted by University of Utah’s Environmental Dispute Resolution Program (EDR Program), the EDR Blog promotes promotes collaboration, mediation and other dispute resolution processes as alternative methods to resolve public policy conflicts, especially around environmental and natural resource issues.

Further Resources

America in One Room

Helena: A deliberative democracy project addressing issues of global importance

Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy

Association for Conflict Resolution

Consensus Building Institute

International Association of Facilitators

National Policy Consensus Center

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