Training Programs

On August 31st and September 7th, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative held its annual Deliberation Facilitator Training at the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College. These trainings, held since the spring of 2020, are designed to empower students, staff, faculty, and community members with essential skills to become facilitators of both formal and informal deliberations. Participants who complete the training become DCI certified facilitators, opening the door for participants to facilitate the DCI’s Deliberative Forums. This 8-hour training, spread over two days, enhances participants’ ability to facilitate meaningful discussions on political and social issues among deliberators with diverse perspectives.

This year, we were excited to welcome a wonderfully diverse group, with 25 participants attending in person and 4 joining us online. The cohort included a rich mix of DCI Fellows, Davidson students, staff, and engaged community members, each bringing unique insights and experiences. This blend of backgrounds created an inclusive, dynamic environment that fostered deep dialogue and collaboration right from the start.

During the first session, Dr. Graham Bullock guided participants through the essentials of setting up and preparing for deliberation. A highlight was the session’s mock deliberation on Free Speech and Inclusion, facilitated by our Senior Fellows. This hands-on experience allowed trainees to step into the role of deliberators, share personal thoughts, and observe how seasoned facilitators effectively navigate challenging, contentious conversations. The collaborative atmosphere underscored the vital importance of empathy and respect when guiding difficult discussions.

The following weekend, Dr. Bullock equipped our trainees with advanced techniques for handling the tough moments that arise in discussions on divisive issues. Participants tackled a gamified training experience that brought to life the methods and tools outlined in the Deliberation Facilitator’s Handbook, making the learning process interactive and memorable. To apply their new knowledge, they then engaged in a second mock deliberation, using the DCI’s guide on Religion in the Public Sphere. Here, trainees stepped into the facilitator role themselves, practicing how to effectively explore multiple perspectives and motivate robust conversation. This immersive practice allowed them to build confidence and refine their techniques in a supportive setting.

The training concluded with a reception where participants had the chance to connect and build community over food and refreshments. We are immensely grateful for the time spent with all our trainees over these two weekends and are excited to see how they will apply their new skills to foster meaningful conversations within their communities. We warmly welcome them into our community of deliberation advocates who are deeply committed to strengthening our democracy.

We invite all those interested in building a better democracy, one conversation at a time, to keep an eye out for future Deliberation Facilitator Trainings. We would love to welcome you to our community!

On September 7th and September 14th, the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative launched its annual Deliberation Facilitator Training at the Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Davidson College. These trainings empower students, staff, faculty, and community members to become skilled facilitators of both formal and informal deliberations. Participants who complete the training become DCI certified facilitators, opening the door for participants to facilitate the DCI’s Deliberative Forums. This 8-hour training, spread over two days, enhances participants’ ability to facilitate meaningful discussions on political and social issues among deliberators with diverse perspectives.

This year, we welcomed a wide-ranging group of participants, with 21 joining us online and 33 attending in person. Our attendees included DCI Fellows, Davidson students, faculty, staff, and engaged community members, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to the table. This rich mix fostered an inclusive environment that encouraged meaningful dialogue and collaboration throughout the training.

During the first session, Dr. Graham Bullock guided participants through the essentials of setting up and preparing for deliberation. We were thrilled to invite Senior Fellows to facilitate a mock deliberation using our Deliberation Guide on Free Speech and Inclusion. This hands-on experience allowed trainees to observe how seasoned facilitators navigate challenging conversations on contentious topics. Participants took on the role of deliberators in the mock deliberation, sharing their thoughts and experiences on free speech and inclusion while also engaging in some role-playing activities. The collaborative atmosphere fostered a deeper understanding of the importance of empathy and respect in facilitating difficult discussions.

The following weekend, Dr. Bullock equipped our trainees with vital skills for facilitating tough discussions on contentious issues. Participants engaged in a gamified training experience that highlighted methods and tools outlined in the Deliberation Facilitator’s Handbook, making the learning process both interactive and enjoyable. They then practiced their newly acquired skills in a mock deliberation utilizing the DCI’s deliberation guide on Immigration, where they stepped into a facilitator role to explore diverse perspectives and motivate conversation. This immersive practice allowed trainees to build confidence and refine their facilitation techniques in a supportive environment.

The training concluded with a spirited reception, both virtual and in person, where participants had the chance to connect and build community over food and refreshments. We are immensely grateful for the time spent with all our trainees over these two weekends and are excited to see how they will apply their new skills to foster meaningful conversations within their communities. We warmly welcome them into our community of deliberation advocates, who are deeply committed to strengthening our democracy.

We invite all those interested in building a better democracy, one conversation at a time, to keep an eye out for future Deliberation Facilitator Trainings. We would love to welcome you to our community!

Want to learn how to have productive, meaningful conversations about difficult topics and help others to do the same? The Deliberative Citizenship Initiative is excited to host a two-part Deliberation Facilitator Training to help participants learn specific deliberation and facilitation skills. It is open to all Davidson students, faculty, staff, and members of the wider community.

The training will take place at Davidson College on Sept. 11^th and Sept. 17^thfrom 1:30 to 5:30 pm, and both sessions are required for completion of the program. Upon completion of the program, participants will be certified DCI Facilitators and eligible to facilitate DCI deliberations (and be paid for doing so).

This hands-on, interactive workshop will train participants in techniques that will improve their ability to facilitate difficult discussions about political and social issues among people who may have very different backgrounds, values, and opinions. Although such facilitation can be challenging, it is increasingly needed in a world that is facing a host of immense challenges that require people to come together to solve issues collaboratively. Well-trained facilitators can help us honestly, respectively, and productively engage with these challenges and seek out innovative solutions.

This 8-hour training, spread across 2 days, will equip participants with skills and knowledge to:

• Facilitate difficult discussions
• Organize and host deliberations
• Encourage deliberative dispositions and humane instincts
• Build community through productive discourse

This free training opportunity will take place in-person at Davidson College, but a limited number of off-site individuals may participate virtually. Given the limited space, please only sign up if you are able to attend both sessions. Learn more about this program on the DCI website and in the information flyer below, and please register here by Sept. 6^th!

Deliberation Facilitator Training Poster