Register now for one of NCDD's regional events on public engagement

Invitation (and Discount) to NCDD Events on Public Engagement

by Sandy Heierbacher

October 10, 2010 | NCDD |

This year, rather than holding a national conference, NCDD (the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation) is bringing its unique, highly participatory events to you.  NCDD members are organizing 5 regional one-day events across the country this October and November, and we would love to see lots of people from the Everyday Democracy community there!

• Denver, Colorado - The Wellshire Inn on Friday, Oct 22
• San Francisco Bay Area (Cupertino), California - De Anza College on Friday, Oct 29
• Boston, Massachusetts - UMass Boston on Friday, Oct 29
• Austin, Texas - St. Edward's University on Friday, Nov 5
• Portland, Oregon - Concordia University on Saturday, Nov 13

The events will connect community leaders, public managers and practitioners regionally to help build knowledge and capacity in solving tough community problems through dialogue, deliberation and action.

Everyday Democracy is one of our All-Star (national) Sponsors for the events, and in appreciation NCDD is offering a 20% discount on regular registration for the first 10 people to use the "EvDem-20" discount code when they register for ANY of the 5 events!

Focus of the Events

In addition to tapping into local knowledge and innovations, the NCDD regional events will build on what we learned in the past year and a half from our involvement in the White House's Open Government Initiative, and through efforts like the creation of the Core Principles for Public Engagement. With the increase in national and local attention to open government and public engagement, members of the dialogue and deliberation community are focusing in on three critical topic areas:

• Quality Public Engagement: What is quality public engagement and how do we educate others about it so it becomes broadly adopted?
• Online Engagement: How can online technology enhance public engagement?
• Collaborations that Work: How can we strengthen connections between public administrators, engagement practitioners and the public?

The events will focus on connecting practitioners, community leaders and public managers locally to help build knowledge and capacity around these three topics.

You can learn more at http://ncdd.org/events.  Registration for Austin, Boston, Cupertino and Portland is only $85 for the day ($70 for NCDD members and $42 for students), and discounts are available -- especially for public administrators and people from typically underrepresented groups.  Registration for the Denver luncheon is just $40 ($30 for NCDDers and students). Email NCDD's director Sandy Heierbacher at  if you have questions.