Deliberative Citizenship Initiative

Building Democracy One Conversation at a Time

Anne-Marie Moehring

Bridging Differences on the Democratic Process: DCI Hosts First Fall Forum on the Future of Elections

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Participants seated around a round table engaged in discussion during a Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) deliberative forum.

Bringing together diverse perspectives on one of the nation’s most vital topics, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) hosted its first Fall Forum of 2026 on “The Future of Elections: Accessibility, Security, and Fairness” on October 6.

The gathering drew approximately 160 participants from across the country. Around 80 attendees joined in person at the DCPC Congregation House in Davidson, while nearly 80 others participated virtually. The cross-generational audience included Davidson College students, alumni, faculty, staff, and local community members, along with participants representing the 24 member institutions of the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN).

The event marked the 22nd deliberative forum organized by the DCI since its founding in Fall 2020, and the very first to feature active participation from the broader DCN network.

Experts Explore Core Democratic Values

Panelists seated on stage around a table during the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative's "The Future of Elections" forum.

DCI Faculty Director Graham Bullock opened the evening by setting the stage for productive civic dialogue. Emphasizing the core mission of both the DCI and DCN, Bullock reminded participants that DCI’s forums aim to create constructive spaces for people who hold well-intentioned but fundamentally differing viewpoints.

“If we want others to understand our perspectives, then we need to be willing to listen and understand other people’s perspectives, particularly those who we deeply disagree with,” Bullock shared.

The first half of the forum featured an expert roundtable moderated by Dr. Michael Bitzer, Professor of Politics and History and Director of the Center for North Carolina Politics and Public Service at Catawba College. Bitzer framed the discussion around key democratic principles: ballot accessibility, security, accuracy, fair representation, and public trust.

The distinguished panel brought a range of national viewpoints to the table:

  • Ben Ginsberg, Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and veteran election law attorney, discussed the decentralized, local nature of American elections across thousands of jurisdictions and the inherent tension between local federalism and uniform national standards.
  • Tori Wenger, Attorney and Manager of the Black Voters on the Rise Initiative at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), highlighted the importance of federal safeguards to protect ballot access, meet ADA compliance, and ensure fair representation for systematically disenfranchised communities.
  • Don Palmer, Senior Legal Fellow for Election Integrity at The Heritage Foundation and former U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) Chairman, focused on election administration, voter roll accuracy, and balancing accessible voting options with strong security measures.
  • Dustin Wahl, Executive Director of Fix Our House, advocated for structural electoral reforms, such as proportional representation, to address gerrymandering and make legislative bodies more truly representative of the electorate.

Moving from Panel to Deliberation

Participants engaged in a small-group discussion around a round table during a Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) event.

Unlike traditional town halls where audiences passively listen, the DCI forum required audience members to step into active deliberation.

Following the 50-minute panel, attendees transitioned into small group discussions designed to build understanding across differences. In-person participants gathered around tables of 6–7 people combining students and community members, while online attendees entered Zoom breakout rooms.

Each small group was led by DCI-trained facilitators, primarily Davidson College students, who guided participants through a structured Deliberation Guide (available below) written over the summer by DCI Senior Fellow Cavan Klein ’25, with leadership support from Assistant Director for Civil Discourse Programs Bob Ritchie.

During the small-group sessions, participants explored competing democratic values, debated the responsibilities of government versus individual voters, and weighed potential policy trade-offs regarding election accessibility and integrity. They also examined different reforms, such as proportional representation, that have been proposed to make elections more fair.

The evening concluded with closing reflections and a post-event survey, encouraging attendees to continue practicing deliberative dispositions, humility, open-mindedness, curiosity, and grace, in their daily lives and local communities.

View the full Forum and read the Deliberation Guide below

DCI Elections Deliberation Guide 2026Download

DCI Trains Over 230 Facilitators from Davidson and Across the Nation

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A person sitting at a desk participating in a virtual video meeting on a laptop while taking handwritten notes.

On Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, the DCI held its annual Deliberation Facilitator Training. While rooted at the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College, this year’s program marked a major milestone in scaling deliberative discourse, welcoming a record-breaking cohort of over 230 participants joining both in person and online.

These annual trainings, held since the spring of 2020, are designed to empower students, staff, faculty, and community members with essential skills to navigate and lead complex conversations. What made this year particularly celebratory was the sheer scale and reach of the audience: participants represented Davidson College alongside 24 partner institutions from the newly launched Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN). This diverse nationwide blend created an energetic, inclusive setting that expanded the DCI’s community of practice across higher education.

Spread over two weekends, the 8-hour comprehensive training equips participants with practical frameworks to facilitate structured, respectful discussions on contentious social and political issues among people with varying perspectives. Upon completion of the two-day training, participants earn their DCI Facilitator Certification, preparing them to lead formal deliberative forums as well as informal dialogues in their home communities and campuses.

Session 1: Setting the Foundation

A group of five participants gathered around a table in a workshop room during a small-group deliberative dialogue session.

During the first day of training, Dr. Graham Bullock guided participants through the core principles of preparing for and structuring effective deliberations. Trainees learned how to establish inclusive ground rules, foster curiosity, and create a welcoming environment for public reasoning.

A central highlight of the opening weekend was a hands-on mock deliberation focused on Free Speech and Inclusion, facilitated by senior DCI Fellows and several Davidson community members. Stepping into the role of deliberators, participants shared personal views and observed firsthand how experienced facilitators guide challenging conversations. The interactive session underscored the critical role that empathy, respect, and active listening play when navigating contentious topics.

Session 2: Advanced Techniques and Hands-On Practice

The second session focused on equipping trainees with advanced tools to manage tense moments, diffuse polarization, and encourage deeper reflection. Participants engaged in an interactive, gamified learning module based on the Deliberation Facilitator’s Handbook, which brought key facilitation techniques to life.

To put theory into practice, trainees then assumed the role of facilitators during a second mock deliberation centered on the focus of the DCN Student Convention that will be hosted in Davidson, NC, in the Spring. Working through the DCI’s custom discussion guide, participants practiced asking probing questions, balancing airtime, and guiding peers across differing perspectives. This supportive practice environment allowed new facilitators to refine their instincts and build confidence in real time. The deliberation also created practical guidelines for the Student Convention, which many of those participating in the Facilitation Training will join.

Building a Broader Deliberative Community

The training concluded with an opportunity for in-person and online participants to reflect, celebrate, and connect with fellow advocates dedicated to strengthening civil discourse.

With the newly certified facilitators returning to Davidson and campuses across the DCN, the impact of this year’s training will extend far beyond the two-day workshop. We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated and look forward to seeing how these facilitators apply their skills to cultivate thoughtful civic engagement in their local communities.

A student seated at a wooden desk participating in a virtual session or online deliberation on his laptop.

Interested in building a better democracy, one conversation at a time? Keep an eye out for upcoming DCI Deliberation Facilitator Trainings and join our growing community!

Building the Best Democracy, One Lego Piece at a Time

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A photo of a workshop or group discussion where participants sit at round tables with red, blue and white Lego bricks.

Every fall, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) hosts its Semester Kickoff Party to welcome students back to campus and introduce them to the practice of constructive dialogue and deliberation. On Aug. 28, the DCI continued this tradition in the Alvarez Student Union’s 900 Room, bringing together Davidson students for active discussion, creative problem-solving, and pizza.

Designed as an engaging, low-stakes entry point for both newcomers and returning participants, the event offered attendees the chance to learn about upcoming DCI programming while putting deliberative principles directly into practice.

Deliberating about “The Best Democracy”

Students seated at a round table building with plastic bricks during a Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) interactive activity.

This year’s event featured the return of a hands-on activity: using Legos to “Build the Best Democracy”! Working in groups, students engaged in lively table discussions on the essential building blocks of a healthy democratic society. Groups debated how to prioritize key institutional elements of balancing executive authority, legislative representation, judicial power, economic rights, election models, and civil liberties, before translating those abstract concepts into physical Lego structures.

The resulting creations represented diverse, and creative,  models of governance, illustrating how different combinations of rights, responsibilities, and institutional checks make for a responsive, resilient democratic republic.

Democracy in Action

In true democratic fashion, participants ended the night by voting on the creations. After evaluating the models at their individual tables, attendees cast votes for the best overall representation of democracy. Winning teams took home grand prizes and honorable mention awards, capping off a fun and thought-provoking evening.

The Semester Kickoff Party served as an energetic start to the academic year, reinforcing the DCI’s commitment to fostering respectful dialogue and deep civic engagement across campus, one Lego piece at a time.

A group of students gathered around a large projection screen displaying voting instructions for the "Championship Round" during a Deliberative Citizenship Initiative (DCI) event.

Interested in joining the conversation this semester? Check out upcoming DCI D Teams, Deliberative Forums, and workshops to get involved!