About IFThe health of our democracy depends greatly on how well citizens discuss, explore, and develop public policy. Ideally, public policy choices will be based on citizens’ and policymakers’ careful consideration of reasonable alternatives and their likely consequences. Increasingly, in the real world, however, policy choices are made in response to crisis and/or in highly-charged political contexts. Frequently the opportunity for the development or consideration of meaningful citizen input is negligible, and the considered policy options are similarly under-developed and often limited to the lesser of two evils.In response to these challenges, the mission of the Interactivity Foundation is to enhance the process and expand the scope of our public discussions, thereby improving the health of our democracy and its development of public policy. That is, IF works to improve both the quality and quantity of the public discussions that shape the development of our public policy options. To do this, we've developed a small-group discussion process designed to help people collaborate in the exploration and development of (a) their concerns and values, (b) multiple policy possibilities to address those concerns, and (c) the possible implementations and consequences of those policy possibilities.Interactivity FoundationIF_c34a3f24-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc974292The Interactivity Foundation works to enhance the process and expand the scope and health of our public discussions by bringing people together in small group discussions of broad topics of public policy concern. Our Fellows conduct longer-term Project Discussions that engage separate panels of selected generalists and specialists on a public policy topic for a year or more of private (or “sanctuary”) discussions to explore and develop multiple policy possibilities, which are then worked into a final Discussion Report. We also conduct and sponsor shorter series (3-4 sessions) of small group Public Discussions, which are open to all interested participants and use the possibilities from our Discussion Reports as the starting point for further exploration and development. Finally, we collaborate with certain college faculty and other educators to develop and support facilitated, student-centered Classroom Discussions... The Interactivity Foundation is an operating foundation that does not make grants but does engage in selected joint research efforts with others. IF is a non-partisan, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that does not engage in political advocacy for itself, any other organization or group, or on behalf of any of the policy possibilities presented in its Discussion Reports. The Foundation was established, under Delaware law, in 1965 by Jay Stern, a West Virginia businessman, whose significant contributions continue to fund the Foundation’s activities. See the IF History and Jay Stern bio pages for more information.Interactivity Foundation Board of TrusteesThe Foundation’s overall mission financial affairs are governed by a Board of Trustees. There are currently 5 trustees:Jack Byrd, Jr.Adolf GundersenJoe PowellAlan FreitagLarry JackleyInteractivity Foundation StaffJack Byrd, Jr.Jack Byrd, Jr., is our President, a Trustee, and chair of our Intellectual Development Committee. Jack is also a full-time professor of Industrial Engineering at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.Jennifer ErbJennifer Erb, is our Office Manager in our administrative office in Parkersburg, WV, supervising an office staff of 4 others. Jennifer is also the secretary of the Foundation.James L. SchneiderJames L. Schneider, manages the work of our contract facilitators for public discussions in Wisconsin.Interactivity Foundation FellowsAs listed alphabetically below, IF has 9 Fellows, each of whom is an employee of the Foundation managing and facilitating longer-term Project Discussions, conducting various and shorter-term Public Discussions, developing and researching Classroom Discussions, and performing a variety of other developmental and administrative projects for the Foundation. The Fellows all reside and work in other locations around the country.Dennis BoyerAdolf GundersenShannon Wheatley HartmanNatalie HopkinsonSuzanne Goodney LeaIeva NotturnoMark NotturnoJeff PrudhommePete ShivelyInteractivity Foundation Intellectual Development CommitteeThis committee administers all of the Foundation’s day-to-day operations. Its current members are Jack Byrd, Jr., Adolf Gundersen, and Jeff Prudhomme.College FacultyOther IF People -- Faculty, Residents/Interns, Etc. -- From time to time, we collaborate on a variety of education, classroom, and discussion related efforts with various college faculty, some of whom attended our 2006 and 2009 Summer Institutes and/or are involved in our Wesleyan-IF Collaboration. See our Classroom Discussions page for additional information. We also work with selected post-graduate scholars, undergraduate students, and others with experience and interest in our discussion processes on certain projects and activities, including Public Discussions, conferences, grant programs, and other development efforts, etc. Currently, these other IF associates include Nneka Edwards and Taiyi Sun.Post-Graduate ScholarsUndergraduate StudentsNneka EdwardsTaiyi Sun... improving the health of our democracy and its development of public policy_c34a412c-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc974292To enhance the process and expand the scope of our public discussions_c34a4212-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc974292ProjectsConvene panels in longer-term discussions to develop and explore multiple contrasting policy possibilities_c34a42e4-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc9742921GeneralistsSpecialistsProject (or “Sanctuary”) Discussions -- We convene two panels of selected generalists and specialists in a series of longer-term and more private (or “sanctuary” style) discussions to develop and explore multiple contrasting policy possibilities, which are then developed into a discussion report._c34a43ac-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc974292CitizensEngage small groups in shorter, more open-ended public discussions_c34a447e-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc9742922CitizensPublic (or “Citizen”) Discussions -- We engage small groups of participants in a shorter series of more open-ended public discussions that help citizens review, consider, explore, further develop, and consider the possible implications of the policy possibilities presented in the discussion report._c34a4532-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc974292ClassroomsTeach content more effectively and introduce students to an important democratic process and life skill_c34a4618-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc9742923EducatorsCollege FacultyStudentsWe also work with selected college faculty and other educators to adapt and use facilitated, small-group discussion processes in the college classroom, with the goals of both helping teach content more effectively and introducing students to an important democratic process and life skill._c34a47d0-4b62-11e4-8638-eaa0cc9742922014-10-03http://www.interactivityfoundation.org/about-if/if-mission/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net