Negative political ads, high voltage political talk shows and dramatic sound bites on the news are the most recognized forms of political discourse in our society. As a result, our public discussion on political issues is now characterized by high-decibel speech, personal attacks and ideological sloganeering.

The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD) was formed in 2004 in response to these problems that result in incivility, citizen alienation and community fragmentation. ICDD promotes citizen deliberation on tough political and social issues, resulting in increased citizen participation, reflection, communication and respect.

ICDD works to enhance democratization locally, nationall, and internationally through improved community deliberation, facilitation and evaluation practices, development of a certified facilitator training program and interdisciplinary research on models of civic discourse.

ICDD is a non-partisan agency bringing together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners to address the relationship between democracy and civic discourse.

ICDD's faculty includes communication specialists, engineers, geographers, political scientists, extension specialists, database managers, professional facilitators and evaluators, and authorities in conflict management.

These individuals bring a variety of technical expertise, theoretical orientation and process skills to promote civic engagement and deliberative democracy, to improve the quality of political communication and to increase our understanding of the relationship between communication and democratic decision-making.

Through this breadth of scholarly and practical experience, ICDD has the capacity to assist citizen deliberation on a wide variety of public issues and in diverse public forums.

For more information:

Dr. David E. Procter, ICDD Director
202 Ahearn Field House
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506-0307
(785) 532-7252, fax (785) 532-6808
icdd@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/icdd

The Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy is committed to improving public deliberation locally, nationally, and internationally by engaging in scholarship, education, facilitation, and outreach.

 

NEWSLETTERS:

March/april 2009 (PDF)

To subscribe to Dialogos send an email with your first and last name and email to icddnews@gmail.com with the subject line SUBSCRIBE .

ICDD IN THE NEWS:

Dave Procter was quoted in the Christian Science Monitor Story "Let's talk, with civility, about the stinker economy."

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Health Care Hearing: Where Does the Public Stand? (details coming soon)

Community Development Academy (Independence, Kansas -- June 10/11, 17/18, 24/25)

FACILITATION TRAINING INFORMATION:

CLICK HERE to get more information about the January ICDD Public Issues Facilitation Workshop.

RECENT EVENTS:

Pakistani Exchange Students Share Culture and Experiences at Eisenhower Library Town Hall Forum:

ICDD teamed up with Eisenhower Presidential Library for an event where guests listened to a first-hand account of life in Pakistan by a panel of nine exchange students. The students were in Kansas as part of a cultural exchange program entitled “Experience America." Click here for more information.

Students and Faculty participate in Kettering events:

ICDD project coordinator Erika Imbody, along with graduate assistants Kara Dillard and Chelsea Good, traveled to Washington D.C. March 10-11 for two events sponsored by Kettering Foundation and the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI). The March 10 event titled, “Coming to Public Judgment on Health Care Reform: A Citizens’ Court Process to Address the Question - How Ready are Americans to Face the Consequences?,” featured a mock trial where judges were asked to determine where the public stands on making a decision on health care reform. Click here for more information. Click here for more information.

ICDD Honors Women's contributions to civic discourse and democracy:

March is Women’s History Month in the United States and in honor of
that, ICDD would like to highlight some famous contributions to
dialogue and democracy by some prominent women in society. Click here for more information.

ICDD Welcomes New Staff:

Katy Riley, junior in communication studies with a minor in leadership
studies, has joined ICDD for the spring semester as an undergraduate
student intern. Julie Hartman, senior in public relations with a minor
in Spanish, is another new addition to the ICDD student staff. Hartman
is taking on the role of publicity and planning for the Community
Development Academy that will take place this summer. Click here for more information.