Public Deliberation
Expanding Engagement through Public Deliberation and Action
Core activities focus on offering a process for local people, organizations and groups to deliberate on important local issues, make choices together on how best to move forward in tackling these issues, and take action based on reasoned public judgment. The focus is on making citizen-centered approaches a core ingredient in building civic-minded communities.
Educational Resources
Articles and Fact Sheets
- 2008 Civic Health Index: National Conference on Citizenship
- Can Adults Accept Youth as Equal Partners in Communities?
- Educating with Controversial Issues, Stephen D. Schumacker and Mike Lloyd
- Fact Sheet: Extension’s Role in Public Issues Education and Dispute Resolution
- Public Issues Education: Exploring Extension’s Role, David B. Patton & Thomas W. Blaine
- Public Policy Education: A Path to Political Support, Patrick G. Boyle & Sheila H. Mulcahy
- Reinventing Citizenship: The Practice of Public Work
- Research Spotlight: Deliberative Dialogue
- Value-Free Extension Education?, Thomas W. Blaine and David B. Patton
Public Deliberation Tools
- How to Convene and Moderate Local Public Forums Using Deliberative Decision-Making
- Standards of Excellence in Civic Engagement
- Test your knowledge of Public Policy – interactive quiz
National Public Deliberation Organizations
- Everyday Democracy (formerly Study Circles Resource Center)
- The Harwood Institute
- The International Institute for Sustained Dialogue
- The Kettering Foundation
- National Issues Forum Institute
- Public Agenda
Land Grant/Extension Service Web Sites
- Iowa State University Extension
- Kansas State University: The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy
- Ohio State University Public Issues Education Team
- Oklahoma State University: Oklahoma Partnership for Public Deliberation
- University of Missouri Extension: Public Issue Forums
Public Deliberation Issue/Discussion Guides by Priority Area
Fostering Civic Minded Communities
- A Community for All Generations - Teens and Adults Working Together (Everyday Democracy
- Building Strong Neighborhoods: A Study Guide for Public Dialogue and Community Problem Solving (Everyday Democracy)
- Democracy’s Challenge: Reclaiming the Public’s Role (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Governing America: Our Choices, Our Challenge (National Issues Forum Institute)
- La Gente y la Politica People and Politics (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Local Voices: Citizen Conversations on Civil Liberties and Secure Communities (Everyday Democracy)
- Money and Politics: Who Owns Democracy? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Teacher’s Guide to National Issues Forums in the Classroom (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Toward a More Perfect Union in an Age of Diversity: A Guide for Building Stronger Communities Through Public Dialogue (Everyday Democracy)
- Hacia una unión más perfecta en una era de diversidad. (Spanish version)
- Youth Issues, Youth Voices: A Guide for Engaging Youth and Adults in Public Dialogue and Problem Solving (Everyday Democracy)
Building Economically Vibrant Communities
- A Nice Place to Live: Creating Communities, Fighting Sprawl (National Issues Forum Institute)
- The Economy (Public Agenda)
- From Welfare to Work: Who Should Help & How? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Jobs: Preparing a Workforce for the 21st Century (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Land Use Conflicts: When City and Country Collide (University of Missouri Extension)
- Making Ends Meet: Is There a Way to Help Working Americans? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Pathways to Prosperity – Choosing a Future for Your Community (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Pocketbook Pressures: Who Benefits from Economic Growth? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Smart Talk for Growing Communities: Meeting the Challenges of Growth and Development (Everyday Democracy)
Enhancing Distressed Communities
- After the Storm: Working Through the Implications of Hurricane Katrina (Public Agenda)
- Building Strong Neighborhoods for Families with Children: A Guide for Public Dialogue and Problem Solving (Everyday Democracy)
- Changing Faces, Changing Communities: Immigration & race, jobs, schools, and language differences (Everyday Democracy)
- Civic Discourse in a Crisis: Lessons from Katrina (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Emergency Preparedness: How Do We Mend Our Emergency Safety Nets? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Examining Health Care: What’s the Public Prescription? (National Issues Forums Institute)
- Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation (Everyday Democracy)
- From Welfare to Work: Who Should Help & How? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Hurricane Katrina Relief: What Do WE Do Now? (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Immigration (Public Agenda)
- Poverty and Welfare (Public Agenda)
- Racial and Ethnic Tensions (National Issues Forum Institute)
- Thriving Communities: Working together to move from poverty to prosperity for all (Everyday Democracy)