Organize a Forum

If you are interested in organizing—or convening—National Issues Forums in your community, there are a growing number of places around the country where you can get the help you need.

Each year, workshops are held at institutions all across the country to supply new moderators and convenors with the background, practice, and materials necessary to introduce deliberative public forums to their neighbors, group, organization, or community. Workshop participants receive information and practice in moderating deliberative forums, become acquainted with NIF materials, discuss how to organize forums, and learn some of the theory behind the importance and effectiveness of public deliberation in identifying the public perspective on public policy issues. Go to Calendar for a listing of workshops, dates, and locations.

You can also get some general information about NIF forums and materials by requesting a forum starter kit. The starter kit includes a sample issue book, an NIF publications catalog, "NIF: An Overview", and other materials.