Purpose of Deliberative Issues Forums  Provide productive spaces for public discourse on complex issues  Encourage conversation that identifies underlying values that inform our ideas  Not just what, but why? 1

Deliberative Issues Forums  Foundation of deliberative democracy  Create collective, shared understanding and public voice  Uncover common ground for collective action – grass roots efforts  Potentially provide legislators with insights into public opinion and what matters to them  Citizens become more interested in political and social issues 2

A Return to the Civic: “What does it mean to be a citizen?”  More than “one who votes”  Working with others to solve common problems  Understanding other points of view  Active seeking of common ground for greater good--solutions that address everyone’s concern 3

DebateDialogueDeliberation Compete Argue Promote Opinion Seek Majority Persuade Dig In Tight Structure Express Usually Fast Clarifies Win/Lose Exchange Discuss Build Relationships Seek understanding Reach Across Loose Structure Listen Usually Slow Clarifies No Decision Weigh Choose Make Choices Seek Overlap Seek common ground Framed to make choices Flexible Structure Learn Usually Slow Clarifies Common Ground 4

Debate vs. Deliberation Search for weaknesses in other positions Search for strength in other positions Search for glaring differences Involves concern for others Counter other’s position at expense of relationship Many people can contribute to workable solution Must invest fully in your beliefs Consider validity of other’s beliefs Seeks to prove other wrongCollaborative and seeks common understanding Winning is goalCommon ground is the goal 5

Debate vs. Deliberation (cont.) Find flaws and counter- arguments Listen in order to understand differences Defends assumptions as facts Reveals assumptions that may need reevaluation Defends original solutionsOpens possibility of better solutions Submit best thinking and defend its rightness Submit best thinking in order to improve it 6

Core Values Underlie Opinions and Beliefs For example: Security Fairness/Equality Freedom/Self-determination

Structure of an Issues forum  Moderator, recorder  Personal stake  Review of ground rules  Charge: the work of citizens to make choices about public issues  Deliberation, not a debate.  Equal time for each approach  Personal and group reflection 8

Ground Rules  Everyone is encouraged to participate  No one or two individuals dominate  The discussion will focus on the choices  All the positions on the issue will be considered  An atmosphere for discussion is maintained  We listen to each other 9

Personal Stake/Stakeholders  Personal experiences with this issue?  What concerns you the most about this issue? 10

Choice Work  What do you like/not like about this approach?  What is important to people who favor this approach?  underlying values  Cost/Consequences/Trade-offs 11

The moderator’s role  Guide the deliberation, not lead it  The less said, the better  Encourage participants to talk to each other, not to you  Present the essence of each approach and then ask a starter question to turn the work over to the group.  Periods of silence between speakers is ok (they may be thinking)  Questions the moderator can ask: Why? How?  Why is this important to you?  How could that be accomplished?  Whose voice is not represented here? 12

Post-forum Reflection  Personal Reflection  How has your thinking about issue changed?  What have you learned that surprised you?  Group reflections  Shared sense of direction or common ground?  Tensions  What are we still struggling with as a group?  What do we still need to talk about?  Which trade offs are we or are we not willing to make?  Whose voice was not at the table?  What are you going to do with what you learned today? 13