Deliberative Citizenship Initiative

Building Democracy One Conversation at a Time

Carla Cole

DCI Fellows Present Poster at Annual Symposium

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Verna Miller Case DCI 2022 Poster

-By Carla Cole, DCI Coordinator

The Verna Miller Case Research & Creative Works Symposium, which showcases outstanding student achievement, was held April 30, 2022. DCI Fellows Kevin Garcia-Galindo and Ben Kellogg were among the more than 700 students who participated in the lively mix of research presentations, performances and displays at the college’s annual Symposium. They presented a poster highlighting the programs and events of the DCI.

The symposium offers a window into the offerings of a college that stresses a broad liberal arts education. It is named for the Beverly F. Dolan Professor Emerita of Biology, founding director of the John Crosland Jr. Center for Teaching and Learning and Davidson’s first associate dean of faculty, Verna Miller Case, who retired from Davidson in 2019.

Public Lecture: Democracy and Freedom of Expression … Revitalizing Public Discourse on Campus and Beyond

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By Carla Cole, DCI Coordinator

The Deliberative Citizenship Initiative and Davidson College Writing Program are sponsoring a public lecture featuring Leila Brammer, Director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago on March 22, 2022 at 7:30 pm. Guests may register here to attend the lecture in person at the 900 Room in the Alvarez College Union (capacity is limited) or via Zoom.

In her remarks, Dr. Brammer will address how freedom of expression in academic and civic environments recognizes the centrality of multiple perspectives, differences, and disagreements to test and develop the best thinking to address collective challenges. Public discourse today is often critiqued for divisiveness that fails to reflect these foundational practices and leaves many unwilling to enter into essential conversations that should animate a healthy democracy. Dr. Brammer will explore how the lens of discourse theory exposes the limits of our current modes of discourse and suggests important ways to reimagine and transform how we engage with one another on campuses and in our communities.

Following the lecture, guests are welcomed to ask questions.

This lecture is part of Davidson College’s “Freedom of Expression Week 2022: Speak. Listen. Learn. Do.”

Leila Brammer is the Director of the Parrhesia Program for Public Discourse at the University of Chicago. Rooted in the Chicago Principles of Freedom of Expression, the Parrhesia Program curricula, programming, and outreach seek to foster the capacity for vigorous, inclusive, and productive discourse in the classroom, campus, and civic life. Building on the history and theory of freedom of expression and rhetoric, the curriculum and programming promote and model academic and civic practices of dialogue, deliberation, and advocacy. Outreach efforts include workshops and seminars for college/university and high school faculty and students to explore and embed both the principles and practices of open discourse in curricula, campus life, and surrounding communities.

Previously, Dr. Brammer developed a civic engagement curriculum and public deliberation and dialogue program at Gustavus Adolphus College that were recognized nationally by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the National Communication Association. In her work in public deliberation and dialogue, Dr. Brammer builds and facilitates frameworks in which community members come to understand problems from multiple perspectives and work together to develop evidence-based approaches to address challenging civic issues.

DCI Fellow Shares Impact of Deliberation

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Photo of Cadie McNaboe

By Carla Cole, DCI Coordinator

Cadie McNaboe, 2020-2021 Deliberative Citizenship Initiative Fellow and Co-Convener and Davison ‘22 political science major, shares the impact deliberation has had on her life in the Davidson Journal Magazine article, “Moving From the Loudest Voice to Listener, From Debate to Deliberation.” Cadie discusses how her training and experiences as a Fellow with the DCI helped her in her classes and personal relationships. Cadie notes the importance of active listening and how her use of conversation maps helped her to become more engaged in her classes and other conversations.

Regarding her experience facilitating DCI discussions for forums and D Teams, Cadie states, “As a facilitator in the deliberations, my role wasn’t to amplify my own thoughts. Instead my goal was to create space for all participants to share, and then guide them in seeing how their different perspectives overlapped. Going from a mindset that highlights the importance of your opinion to a model where all voices are meant to be equal, was a fundamental shift.”

Cadie embraced this shift and implemented it into various aspects of her life, including family dinners where potentially divisive conversations took place. Cadie was able to facilitate a family conversation about contentious political issues and find areas of common ground rather than chaos. Cadie says she isn’t sure whether deliberation can transform our democracy, but says, “what I do know for certain is that deliberation has fundamentally transformed me.” You can read the full article here.

Economic Mobility: How Can the American Dream Be More Achievable for Everyone?

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By Carla Cole, DCI Coordinator

Davidson’s Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, Davidson’s Center for Civic Engagement, and the North Mecklenburg Economic Mobility Collaborative invite you to attend an online deliberative forum February 15th from 7 to 9 pm. The forum will begin with a talk from three expert panelists followed by small breakout group facilitated deliberations. Panelists represent a variety of perspectives and include Sheri Chisolm, Executive Director of Leading on Opportunity, Kieth Cockrell, President of Bank of America Charlotte, and Patrick Garry, author and Professor at the University of South Dakota’s School of Law and Director of the Hagemann Center for Legal & Public Policy Research.

Nationally, people across the United States are beginning to question the concept of the American dream as income inequality rises, poverty deepens, and access to education and healthcare opportunities appear unequally distributed.  If the American dream does exist, how might we begin to understand this abstract concept? In our everyday lives, how do we define this idea of economic mobility, and what different ideas have been proposed to make it more achievable for everyone? This forum will address the challenges of economic mobility and possible strategies for making the American dream more accessible to everyone.

The forum will enable participants to explore important questions, learn from experts, listen to the perspectives of others, and share ideas about economic mobility. We request that all registrants plan to attend both the panel and small group discussions, as they are designed to complement one another.

Due to the limited number of DCI trained facilitators, registration is limited, so please sign up today! This event is free and open to the public.

‘Tis the Season to Give Grace

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By Carla Cole, DCI Coordinator

As the holidays approach, many of us will be gathering with friends and family. At some point, politics is likely to rear its (often ugly) head during conversations. Should we retreat or engage? 2020-2021 DCI Fellow Dalton Langdon responds, “engage,” and I agree! Political discussions don’t have to be nasty or even contentious – we can actually make them productive and meaningful by utilizing deliberative skills and adopting deliberative dispositions! In his 2020 blog, Dalton offers guidance for engaging in political conversations during the holidays. In addition to his suggestions, I encourage us to all embrace a commitment to egalitarianism, humility, open-mindedness, curiosity, empathy and charity . Embracing these deliberative dispositions allows us to foster our shared humanity, find common ground, and leave conversations feeling fulfilled, not frustrated.

When we treat our interlocutors as equal participants in a conversation, we demonstrate respect for their humanity and perspectives. When we approach others with humility, we understand that we do not know everything; this allows us an opportunity to grow from learning the perspectives of others. When we engage with an open mind and curiosity, we allow ourselves to expand the scope of our own knowledge and truly hear the ideas of others.

When we approach others with empathy, we demonstrate compassion for others and respond to disagreements with goodwill. When we offer charity, we assume the best – and not the worst – about others, and we are able to navigate disagreements with grace.

When we actively listen to others, we are able to fully hear and consider their perspectives. When we approach a conversation with anticipation, we are open to changing our own positions based on good argument and reason. When we use evidence to support our perspectives, our arguments are more robust and meaningful. When we seek to find common ground, we find our shared humanity. When we find common ground, we are able to generate solutions to shared problems.

So, this holiday season, try adopting deliberative dispositions and following the recommendations Dalton offers in his blog so you may deck the halls – not your uncle!