Our Underlying Values

The foundation for a replicable, adaptable model of civic engagement

These values guide every engagement we design and facilitate. They reflect decades of learning about what makes community dialogue transformative.

Building Trust

  • Every voice matters; decisions reflect community wisdom.
  • Actively include voices left out; value diversity of identities and perspectives.
  • Ensure all participants can meaningfully contribute.
  • Address systemic barriers to engagement and influence.
  • Participants feel seen, heard and valued.

Community Dialogue and Sense Making

  • Create space for respectful dialogue across differences and disagreement without vilification.
  • Use the group's collective intelligence to make sense of complex issues.

Well-Informed Policy & Action

  • Better decisions are informed by diverse perspectives and lived experience of those impacted.
  • Engagements lead to actionable next steps that impact both decision-makers and communities.

Continuous Improvement & Capacity Building

  • Continuously evaluate, learn from, and improve our engagement methods.
  • Learn from communities, partners, and the broader field of civic engagement.
  • Integrate new tools, models, and approaches to strengthen democratic practice.
  • Teach and model better convening practices for long-term impact.

What These Values Mean in Practice

Inclusive Participation

We actively work to include marginalized voices and ensure every participant can meaningfully contribute, addressing systemic barriers to engagement.

Respectful Dialogue

We create space for disagreement without vilification, fostering understanding across differences while maintaining safety and dignity.

Actionable Results

Our engagements produce concrete next steps that inform policy and empower communities, not just conversation for its own sake.

Growing the Field

We're committed to sharing knowledge, training practitioners, and building sustainable infrastructure for democratic renewal nationwide.

Together, these elements and values form the foundation for a replicable, adaptable model of civic engagement that can strengthen democratic culture, address polarization, and build lasting community capacity for collaborative decision making and action.

Ready to Put These Values Into Practice?

Let's work together to create inclusive, meaningful dialogue in your community.

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