The National Issues Forums Institute shows how communities across America use deliberation - careful group discussions - to tackle tough challenges. Their website shares real stories from different places where people came together to talk through problems and find solutions. In Louisiana, kindergarten teachers help young kids learn to discuss sharing and friendship through daily conversations.
In Arkansas, a community worked together to figure out what to do about their overcrowded jail. In Jacksonville, Florida, residents held public forums to decide what to do with Confederate monuments. A library director in Utah used group discussions to address high suicide rates in their area.
Teachers found ways to keep teaching discussion skills to students even during COVID-19 lockdowns. At the University of Montana, students used deliberation and radio to address campus sexual assault. These examples show how structured conversations where people listen to different viewpoints can help communities make better decisions together.
The institute provides guides and training to help more communities learn these skills for working through disagreements and finding common ground on difficult issues.