Purpose of Deliberative Issues Forums

1. Purpose of Deliberative Issues Forums • Provide safe spaces for public discourse on complex issues • Encourage conversation that identifies underlying values that inform our ideas • not just what, but why?

2. A Return to the Civic: “What does it mean to be a citizen?” • More than “one who votes” • Working with others to solve common problems • Understanding other points of view • Active seeking of common ground for greater good--solutions that address everyone’s concern

3. Debate, Discussion Deliberative Dialogue Debate, Discussion, Deliberative Dialogue

5. Effective Issue Framing

6. FramingPeople normally approach difficult decisions by looking at the options available to them, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each, and then selecting the option that is most consistent with what they consider valuable. Framing issues for deliberation requires just a few simple questions: • What concerns people when they think about an issue? In other words, what is valuable? • Given these concerns, what types of actions would they favor? • What benefits, and what negative consequences might result? In other words, what tradeoffs have to be considered?

7. Core values Security Fairness/Equality Freedom/Self-determination

8. Characteristics of an Effective Framing • The issue is named in such a way that it does not favor a particular approach. • The things that people consider valuable are reflected in the options for action. • The tensions between the advantages and disadvantages of each option are clear. • The framework does not lend itself to selecting “all of the above.” • The consequences are described in terms of their effects on what is valuable, not just practical

9. Characteristics of an Effective Framing, cont’d. • Those who should take action should include citizens and what they must do collectively, not just individually. • An effective framework recognizes unpopular points of view. • Each option is presented in the most positive light; if the framing seems to favor one particular option, people will feel manipulated. • The pros of one option are not the cons of another • An effective framework does not prompt the usual conversations. • An effective framework often leaves people ‘stewing’ because they are more aware of the undesirable effects of the options they like most.

10. Structure of an Issues forum • Moderator, recorder • Personal stake • Review of ground rules • Charge: the work of citizens to make choices about public issues • Deliberation, not a debate. • Equal time for each approach • Personal and group reflection

11. Ground Rules • Everyone is encouraged to participate • No one or two individuals dominate • The discussion will focus on the choices • All the positions on the issue will be considered • An atmosphere for discussion is maintained • We listen to each other

12. Personal Stake • Personal experiences with this issue? • What concerns you the most about this issue?

13. Choice Work • What do you like/not like about this approach? • What is important to people who favor this approach? • underlying values • Cost/Consequences/Trade-offs

14. The moderator’s role • Guide the deliberation, not lead it • The less said, the better • Encourage participants to talk to each other, not to you • Present the essence of each approach and then ask a starter question to turn the work over to the group. • Periods of silence between speakers is ok (they may be thinking) • Questions the moderator can ask: Why? How? • Why is this important to you? • How could that be accomplished? • Whose voice is not represented here?

15. Post-forum Reflection • Personal Reflection • How has your thinking about issue changed? • What have you learned that surprised you? • Group reflections • Shared sense of direction or common ground? • Tensions • What are we still struggling with as a group? • What do we still need to talk about? • Which trade offs are we or are we not willing to make? • Whose voice was not at the table? • What are you going to do with what you learned today?