FIDE - North America

?? The 2024 National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) provides a timely platform to examine how citizens' deliberation can address today’s democratic challenges! Join Marjan Horst Ehsassi?and?Amy Lee?to discuss the role of deliberative democratic processes, such as Citizens’ Assemblies, in fostering inclusive participation and informed decision-making. They will discuss practical strategies for integrating these approaches into policy-making to strengthen democratic resilience and responsiveness. The conference will convene policymakers, educators, and civic leaders for a series of discussions on democracy, technology, and civic participation. It is an opportunity to explore actionable strategies to advance civic health and ensure that diverse voices contribute to shaping our shared future. ?? Date: December 10th, 2024 ?? Location: Planet Word, Washington, DC ?? More Information and Registration: ncoc.org/conference #DeliberativeDemocracy #CivicHealth #NCoC2024

?? Thank you to the OECD's Public Governance team for a rich and inspiring convening of the International Civic Participation Network (ICPN) last week - Special gratitude to the organizing team including Mauricio Mejia, Ollin Pérez-Raynaud David Goessmann, Carlos Santiso Giulia Cibrario and Elo?se Gabadou Santiago ? ?? FIDE - North America was pleased to provide an update on the Deliberative Wave in the United States, including insights and opportunities for our collective work given the new political context. With strong alignment around the need for more robust and systemic evidence-based findings, we are especially excited to contribute to this space with our new Learning Series and upcoming case studies??? ? ?? Huge appreciation to ICPN colleagues for organizing a book gathering for my book Activated Citizenship, The Transformative Potential of Citizens' Assemblies. After sharing my research and findings, we launched into a?terrific discussion about designing for legitimacy, how we define success, the many impacts of Citizens' Assemblies, the challenges of shrinking/shifting civic spaces and the perils of manipulation. Thank you for a dynamic conversation - looking forward to future collaborations!??? ? Farewell to Mauricio - we wish you the very best in this next chapter and looking?forward to staying in touch! ?? ? As always - enjoyed spending time with colleagues near and far including?Yves Dejaeghere Doreen Grove Ga?tane Ricard-Nihoul Juliette Agez Antoine Vergne Jonathan Moskovic Cornelia Perle Dr. Nabila Abbas Cato Léonard Dr. Constantin Sch?fer Alexis Prokopiev and many more ? ? ?

?? Meet the Citizens' Assemblies Learning Series team! Our team of evaluators is already busy interviewing, observing and analysing different Citizens' Assemblies across North America. Pim Trommelen, Mary Hurner, Miles Brackenbury and Laura R. will bring you curated insights and key learnings from some of the frontrunning processes in the region! Stay tuned ― the first case study is coming very soon. ?? In partnership with the Institute of Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA)?at The Ohio State University #CitizensAssemblies #DemocraticInnovation

?? How do we leverage the learnings and impacts from Citizens’ Assemblies? ? With hundreds of deliberative processes taking place globally in the past decade, the expansion of Citizens Assemblies (CAs) is undeniable. Yet, evaluation practices have varied widely, hindering the comparability and consistency of learning across cases. We want to ensure that our understanding of the North American deliberative wave is enhanced with every Citizens' Assembly that is designed and implemented.? ? This is the objective of our new Citizens' Assemblies?Learning Series! Based on a multi-methods approach, our independent Case Studies?foster a more comprehensive understanding of how deliberative processes perform across different settings and topics. The evaluation methods include pre- and post-assembly surveys to measure participant views on information quality, process integrity, and belief changes, alongside researcher observations of full sessions to document neutral impressions. Additionally, in-depth interviews allow participants to share detailed personal insights beyond survey responses, creating a comprehensive understanding of the assembly experience and its impact. ?? This framework offers a comparative, evidence-based methodology to analyze the design, impact, and effectiveness of Citizens’ Assemblies. We thank our partners at the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability at The Ohio State University and the Berggruen Institute for their support. ?? If you'd like more information or want to get involved, reach out to us at [email protected] #CitizensAssemblies #DemocraticInnovation

?????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ??.??. ???????????????? ?????????????? ? The recent U.S. election results reveal a deepening national division, further indication that our democratic model is struggling to meet the needs and aspirations of everyday people. Many Americans feel unheard and removed from decision-making processes, a disconnect that has been building over time as political institutions struggle to adapt and include a diversity of voices across our society. ? At FIDE - North America, we see the increased public support for authoritarian practices as a response to the unfulfilled promises of our democratic system. We are in a pivotal moment to protect political institutions and their independence. Our mission is to work across various levels of government and public administrations to develop resilient democratic frameworks, such as Citizens' Assemblies, that engage everyday citizens in the decisions affecting their lives. Through programs that enable citizens to learn together and deliberate society’s toughest issues, we aim to strengthen mutual trust. ? In this time of division, we remain committed to fostering deliberative processes that uphold and safeguard democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law. Only by bringing citizens together in dialogue and action can we create a democracy that truly respects and responds to the voices of all. This work is only possible by building a collective movement with partners and allies, who share our commitment to promoting a more inclusive, responsive and resilient democracy. #Democracy

?? Fall School on Citizens’ Assemblies 2024 With experts from around the country, participants from across 12 US states explored the building blocks of designing and implementing deliberative processes. We covered design considerations to ensure impact, learnings from case studies, and innovative methods to enhance deliberation. With the second edition of our schools in North America, we continue to build local capacity by equipping civil servants and community leaders with practical tools for implementing deliberative processes. We look forward to following our FIDE - North America School Alums as they design and implement Citizens’ Assemblies in their cities! Big thanks to our partners at the National Civic League and Arizona State University! ? Thank you to our remarkable experts: Mahmud Farooque, Matt Leighninger, Nick Vlahos, Peter MacLeod, Morgan Lasher, Linn Davis, Brandyn Keating #DemocraticInnovation #CitizensAssemblies

Guiding Principles for Citizens' Assemblies: A Collaborative Effort ? ? As deliberative democracy gains traction in North America, establishing shared guidelines and frameworks is essential to ensure high-quality implementation. Over the past months, we have convened numerous practitioners, experts, and partner organizations to articulate the key principles that define Citizens' Assemblies. The result, ????????????????' ????????????????????: ???? ???????????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? & ????????????????????, is a ???????????? ???????????????? that will evolve through contributions from a growing community of democratic innovators. ? The adaptability of participatory and deliberative methods to various contexts—regardless of resource levels or organizational structures—is a crucial asset for democratic renewal. The emergence of Citizens' Assemblies requires that we recognize the importance of setting clear expectations and standards to ensure their effectiveness. Success depends on ?????????????????? ???????? ????????????????????: well-defined processes that balance inclusivity, transparency, and impact. ? By offering ?????????????? ???????????????????? rather than rigid metrics, this document fosters a shared understanding among diverse actors while allowing flexibility for adaptation to various contexts. This process is dynamic and open-ended. We warmly invite actors from across sectors — whether government, civil society or academia — to participate in refining and expanding these guidelines. ? We are grateful to those who have participated —National Civic League, Institute for Democratic Engagement & Accountability (IDEA), Berggruen Institute, MASS LBP, Unify America, Healthy Democracy and The newDemocracy Foundation— and look forward to seeing these shared principles evolve alongside our community! #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovation

Learning to address our democratic challenges becomes easier when you can rely on a good network. In our upcoming Citizens' Assembly School, the connections made will be as important as the insights from presentations and workshops. ?? Watch this to discover how other participants made their leap in previous schools! ?? 22-24, October ?? Phoenix, Arizona ?? Learn more & register at: https://lnkd.in/di8BFExQ #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovations

?? Making mistakes is an essential step in every learning process. We are glad to see participants like Sara McPhee-Knowles reflect honestly on this process. The Citizens' Assembly School is a safe space where experts and practitioners share their journeys so that you can leverage the collective wisdom of this community! ?? Learn More & Register: https://lnkd.in/di8BFExQ ?? In partnership with the National Civic League and hosted by the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes at Arizona State University #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy

?? A learning opportunity awaits you in Phoenix! Our partners at the National Civic League are hosting a Democracy Innovations Workshop just before the Fall Citizens' Assembly School, offering a unique chance to explore new tools for citizen engagement. By attending both the workshop and the school, you'll gain a comprehensive view of democratic innovation—from conceptualizing community improvements to designing inclusive, deliberative processes. Plus, you'll receive a discount when you sign up for both events! This dynamic combination of events is perfect for practitioners, civil society leaders, and public officials looking to build more inclusive, resilient governance. At the workshop, you'll explore innovative tools like the Healthy Democracy Ecosystem Map and hands-on community mapping exercises. With this fresh overview, you will be ready to dive deeper into the world of Citizens' Assemblies. ?? Learn more & register at: ?? Democracy Innovations Workshop: https://lnkd.in/eYu632-Q ?? Fall School 2024: https://lnkd.in/di8BFExQ Hosted by the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes at Arizona State University #CitizensAssemblies #DeliberativeDemocracy #DemocraticInnovations