The date for the 2010 ICDD Public Issues Facilitation Workshop is January 11-13, 2010 on the Kansas State University main campus. Click here to register for this year's conference online or click here to print the form and register by mail. For the brochure for this year's workshop click here. The class EDACE 786 Facilitation for Results information sheet can be found here.

This workshop has also gone on the road to be conducted in Canada, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Contact ICDD for further information about hosting the workshop in your community.

"Public issues are matters of widespread concern in the community. They are resolved by group decision processes that create local public policy. We often assume that the responsibility for resolving public issues is in the domain of government. But as society becomes more complex, and we acknowledge the limits of what government can achieve, we recognize the need for public and private interests to work together. Involving diverse interests in public issues, however, can often heighten local conflict and make the resolution of community issues more difficult" (Leatherman & Howell, 2000).

Our communities are confronted by many important and, at times controversial, public issues. Issues such as shrinking water tables, risk and disaster preparedness, immigration, energy, public education, the environment, and issues of economic development all confront our towns, counties, and regions.  For our communities to move forward in a positive and productive way, it is essential to hear citizens’ voices and understand how they feel about these important issues.

Unfortunately, many citizens have disappeared from the public square and are increasingly leery of engaging with others to discuss public issues.  People are often overwhelmed with family and work commitments and are not anxious to be part of a public process that is characterized by intolerance, inaction, rudeness, and anger.  People don't want to be part of a process that is unproductive and unpleasant.  It is not surprising then that citizen participation in civic affairs is down, with fewer and fewer people serving on civic committees or even attending a public meeting on community affairs.

This is why the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy’s (ICDD) Public Issues Facilitation Workshop is so tremendously important.  Community leaders are often called on to organize, facilitate, and assess community forums on issues critical to local communities.  This workshop is a three day training session that will equip participants with skills necessary to serve as an important leader in the future direction of their communities.

workshop highlights

+ How to set up public forums
+ The role of the facilitator
+ Facilitation values
+ Best practices for facilitators
+ Assessing public issue forums
+ Participation in different forms of public conversation
+ Practice/coaching sessions for individual facilitation skills