Deliberative Citizenship Initiative

Building Democracy One Conversation at a Time

Spring 2023 D Teams are Here! Register Today!

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D-Teams-Poster_Spring-2023

Following our successful fall deliberations about elections, this spring the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) is hosting two tracks of discussions on important issues facing our society. The first single-topic track will take a deep dive on pressing issues relating to climate change, while the second multi-topic track will explore questions related to three key policy areas – climate change, immigration, and college admission policies. These were the highest priority issues identified in surveys of previous D Team members and discussions among the DCI Fellows and Co-Conveners. When registering, you will be able to indicate which is your preference (if you have one).

Climate Change (Single-Topic Track)

The last year witnessed record temperatures in North America, Europe and elsewhere, as well as record floods around the world, including in Kentucky, Pakistan, and Australia. Large majorities of scientists, policymakers, business leaders, and citizens now generally agree that climate change is occurring, but often differ on particular strategies to pursue and who should be responsible for implementing them. Over the course of three sessions, participants in this D Team track will take a deep dive into the topic of climate change, tackling three key questions:

  1. Climate Choices (Part I): What climate strategies, if any, should we pursue? Should we focus more on reducing carbon emissions, protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, or accelerating the development of innovations that can make it easier to do both?
  2. Climate Responsibilities (Part II): Who, if anyone, should be responsible for paying for these strategies? Should everyone pay an equal share, should polluters pay more, or should those with greater capacity pay more?
  3. Climate Responsibilities (Part III): Who, if anyone, should be responsible for implementing these strategies? Should governments, businesses, or consumers take the greatest responsibility for taking action on climate change?

    Immigration, College Admission Policies, and Climate Change (Multi-Topic Track)

    The DCI’s second track will also discuss our climate choices along with two other topics – immigration and college admissions policies.

    1. Immigration Choices: In 2022, there were a record number of migrant border crossing into the United States. Who should we welcome? What should we do? Should we welcome all immigrants and be a beacon for freedom, enforce the law and be fair to those who follow the rules, or slow down and re-build our common bonds? 
    2. College Admission Choices: In 2023, the Supreme Court will rule on two highly consequential cases related to the use of race in college admissions. How should applicants’ backgrounds be taken into account, if at all? To what extent should race, athletic performance, legacy status, gender, socio-economic status, and/or merit be used in the admission process?
    3. Climate Choices: What climate strategies, if any, should we pursue? Should we focus more on reducing carbon emissions, protecting communities from the impacts of climate change, or accelerating the development of innovations that can make it easier to do both?

      Registration

      Spring 2023 D Team Registration — CLICK HERE

      • To register for a spring D Team, click on the link above. The registration deadline is Monday, January 23rd.
      • You can choose from several dates and times. Please have your calendar ready and updated when you register and indicate all time slots that you will be available.
      • In consideration of others in your group, you are expected to attend all three sessions.
      • Group assignments, along with the date, time and the DCI Fellow leading your D Team will be emailed to you by Monday, January 30th.
      • We encourage you to invite someone who has different perspectives on the issues than you to join a D Team as well. Please this information with a colleague, friend, neighbor, or family member who you think might be interested. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join!

      Dates

      • Registration deadline – Monday, January 23
      • D Team Assignments sent to participants – Monday, January 30
      • D Team Session 1 – Week of Monday, February 20th
      • D Team Session 2 – Week of Monday, March 20th
      • D Team Session 3 – Week of Monday, April 10th

      More Information

      See below for some comments from recent D Team participants (over 160 people participated on 19 different teams this past fall):

      “My D Team experience allowed me to have rich discussions with a mix of students, staff, and alumni. I particularly enjoyed the diversity in our ages and backgrounds. The written guides and our facilitator helped me feel prepared to participate in topics I had little experience in discussing, especially outside of my own friend group.”

      “The DCI experience is one of the rare opportunities in these contentious times that cross-generational and cross-political perspectives can be shared and engaged within a respectful discussion.”

      Click here to learn more and watch a short video about the D Team experience. You can also find out about the difference between SkillBuilder and BridgeBuilder Teams and read more testimonials from past participants.