NCDD Events in Boston, Denver, San Francisco, Austin and Portland

Looking for effective ways to find common ground in your town? Tired of the same old public hearing as the primary way to get community input? Take heart! Participants at a series of regional events led by the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation will be tackling these questions and more.

In the Foundation’s work, we stress the importance of meaningful dialogue in communities. Our Heart & Soul Community Planning Principles emphasize the importance of listening to everyone to find the best possible solutions for the challenges facing communities today. There are no shortage of methods and tools out there to achieve this objective (check Planning Tools Exchange and NCDD’s Resource Center for more info). But how do we ensure these approaches get embedded in the daily work of community planning?

In October and November, NCDD’s events in Boston, Denver, San Francisco, Austin and Portland will tackle this challenge head on. Through grounded case studies, attendees will be wrestling with the following questions:

• What is quality public engagement and how do we educate others about it so it becomes broadly adopted?
   
• How can online technology enhance public engagement?
   
• How can we strengthen connections between public administrators, engagement practitioners and the public?

We at the Foundation see these questions as central to improving community planning and ensuring that our cities and towns are resilient and enduring places. We’re looking forward to attending the conversations in Boston and Denver.

Are these questions central to your work too? If so, we hope to see you there.