National Dialogue Network Draft Plan Introduction -- In these times of increasingly complex and urgent challenges, the vision and intention of this proposal is to contribute significantly to strengthening the capacity, sense of responsibility, and desire of people to actively participate in their own self-governance. This is an essential, but certainly not a sufficient element for a well-functioning, robust democracy. Lack of confidence in the American political process is dangerously high. This National Dialogue Network will create space for high-quality dialogue and deliberation in-person and online using the best tools and methods available from a coalition of supporting organizations and individuals. Periodically (with the frequency depending on resources), people of all ages and backgrounds will gather (using in-person or on-line methods—encouraging both random and/or self-selected participants) to discuss important public issues. Collaborating organizations and conveners will be empowered to conduct and customize these gatherings so that they are most relevant to the specific needs of their communities.If you have not seen it yet, please watch the video descripton of the process this document explains in more detail:https://vimeo.com/55836517Disclaimer -- All ideas presented in this document are my own and in no way speak for the NCDD board or its membership. I draw upon the nearly 50 years of experience and practice of my father and the operational models of his many Dick Spady Legacy Projects -- the most recent being the Community Forums Network of Washington State. This proposal is intended to: Encourage and strengthen broad public engagement on national issues by ordinary everyday Americans and Optionally provide a means for others (public and private) to adapt and extend national core materials to their natural constituants (locally, regionally, or statewide) and/or their methodologies.National Dialogue NetworkNDNNDN Working GroupA working group would be tasked with the establishment, operation, and management of the National Dialogue Network. The working group responsible for the National Dialogue Network should be a team of collaborative volunteers drawn from the organizational and individual membership ranks of NCDD. NDN itself will seek collaborations with other independent national dialogue projects as they emerge from other institutions in order to build capacity for as many people as possible and from wherever the source. All representatives on the working group are expected to attend virtual meetings, speak their minds freely, and participate in the decisions of the working group. All representatives are free to withdraw their support and involvement in the working group at any time. New representatives can be invited with approval of the working group.Do you have suggestions for working group participants? -- add their names below so we can follow up (its OK to add your own name too):John SpadySeattle, Civic Entrepreneur for a National Dialogue Network and author of a Catalyst Award proposal at: http://ncdd.civicevolution.org/proposal/10096Craig PatersonMary DumasMichael BriandRoshan BlissDoug ZennColin Gallagher Tyler Goulet (added January 23 after submitting final Catalyst Award proposal)NDN Advisory CommitteeThanks to Lisa Heft for reminding me of this potential resource for the working group.An advisory board should be established to advise working group members in their efforts. Suggestions for advisory board invitees can be added below. Please provide name and field of expertise -- multiple field suggestions are welcome:Lisa HeftFacilitation, Access and Inclusion and Referrals Clearinghouse advisorPeggy HolmanMedia advisorStephanie NestlerodeOrganizational Performance advisorStephen BuckleyEngagement Metrics advisorSteve StrachanPolitical and Government Relations advisor (and former King County Sheriff)Daniel ClarkNational Dialogue advisorFaith TrimblePolicy Research and Analysis advisorRosa ZubizarretaCommunication and Facilitation advisorLinda Blong, Process Design advisorCheryl Honey [RIP] Sarah ThomsonProcess Design advisor (added Feb 2)To contribute to strengthening the capacity, sense of responsibility, and desire of people to actively participate in their own self-governance.RespectRespectful: seeking the different perspectives and opinions of others in a humble wayInclusivenessInclusive: everyone is welcome; extra effort will be made to locate and invite participants with differing perspectives and backgroundsFactsGrounded in facts and informative. Interpretation of results must be clearly linked to collected data. DataAll data sets will be made available for public analysis and interpretationAnalysis InterpretationEmpowermentEmpowering: through the dialogue process, participants will understand how an issue relates to them and have some ideas about what they can do about itTransparencyPublic and Transparent: The NDN will clearly share its rationale for key decisions. InputRegular public input will be sought at important milestonesParticipationParticipatory: local events will be dialogues (rather than just Q&A) where attendees can actively engage with one anotherCollaborationCollaborative: NDN depends on the collaborative and supportive efforts of organizations and individuals to get the word out and generate participation. NDN will cross promote organizations and individuals who choose to participate. If funds are available then grants will be designed for nonprofit collaborators or nonprofit sponsors or fiscal agents of for-profit collaborating organizations or individuals that achieve participation thresholds that will be defined laterDecentralizationDecentralized: Collaborating organizations and conveners will be enabled to optionally extend national core materials privately (but at their own expense) to expand upon NDN materials so that local participants will be more likely to interact with the national materialFacilitationFacilitated: Trained dialogue facilitators can be optionally requested for private hireAdaptationAdaptive and Continuously Improving: An NCDD-sponsored listserv is available now for discussion about this process and its goals. Continuous ImprovementExperimentation Please click the link and subscribe. The NDN encourages private experimentation and public feedback of its processesFeedbackDialogue & DeliberationCreate space for high-quality dialogue and deliberation in-person and online using the best tools and methods available from a coalition of supporting organizations and individuals.1... This National Dialogue Network will create space for high-quality dialogue and deliberation in-person and online using the best tools and methods available from a coalition of supporting organizations and individuals.TrustBe worthy of the public’s trust1.1EngagementEngage one million participants in national dialogue by 20161.2NetworkBuild and brand a network of willing and collaborative organizations and individuals who agree to cross promote NDN activities through their own networks1.3Core MaterialsDevelop minimal national-scale “core materials” that can be incorporated into third party methodologies if desired1.4DiversityDemonstrate the diversity of participants when measured against census figures1.5MetricsCollect metrics on the effectiveness of different methodologies and variations in results for researchers and organizers1.6FacilitatorsExpand the national pool of people with experience in facilitating dialogues1.7FacilitatorsFinancing & OperationsFunction in a fiscally responsible and operationally transparent manner1.8Demographics & ConsensusInform the decisions of policymakers by highlighting the demographics of consensus1.9Dialogue & Civic Infrastructures Promote healthy dialogue within communities and assist them to develop their own supportive civic infrastructures as our collaborators1.10CommunitiesGatheringsGather periodically to discuss important public issues. 2Periodically (with the frequency depending on resources), people of all ages and backgrounds will gather (using in-person or on-line methods—encouraging both random and/or self-selected participants) to discuss important public issues. Collaborating organizations and conveners will be empowered to conduct and customize these gatherings so that they are most relevant to the specific needs of their communities.LibrariesRevitalize the use of libraries as a public space for community engagement2.1Libraries2013-08-09https://hackpad.com/National-Dialogue-Network-draft-plan-x5MZhwscm4WOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net