Purpose of Deliberative Issues Forums

1. Purpose of Deliberative Issues Forums • Provide safe spaces for public discourse on complex issues. • Encourage conversation that identifies underlying values that inform our ideas. (Not just what, but why?)

2. A Return to the Civic: What does it mean to be a citizen? • Be more than “one who votes.” • Work with others to solve common problems. • Understand other points of view. • Actively seek common ground for greater good (solutions that address everyone’s concern).

3. Effective Issues Framing People normally approach difficult decisions by: • looking at the options available to them • weighing the advantages/disadvantages of each • selecting the option most consistent with what they value

4. Framing Questions for Deliberation: • What concerns people when they think about an issue? In other words, what is valuable? • Given these concerns, what types of actions would they favor? • What benefits and/or negative consequences might result? In other words, what tradeoffs have to be considered?

5. Core Values • Security/Safety • Fairness/Equality • Freedom/Self-determination

6. Characteristics of Effective Framing • Name issue in a way that does not favor a particular approach. • Provide options for action that reflect the things that people consider valuable. • Clearly expose the tensions between the advantages and disadvantages of each option. • Avoid frameworks that lend themselves to selecting “all of the above.” • Describe consequences in terms of their effects on what is valuable, not just practical.

7. Characteristics of Effective Framing (cont.) • Recognize unpopular points of view. • Present each option in the most positive light • Avoid making the pros of one option into the cons of another. • Avoid prompting the usual conversations. • Allow people to “stew” and recognize the undesirable results of their favored option.

8. Structure of an Issues Forum • Establish moderator and recorder • Review ground rules • Discuss personal stake • Provide equal time for each approach • Incorporate personal and group reflection

9. 1. Role of the Moderator • Guide (don’t lead) the deliberation. • The less said, the better • Encourage participants to talk to each other, not to you • Present the essence of each approach. Then, ask a starter question to turn the work over to the group. • Permit periods of silence between speakers. It’s okay. Role of the Recorder • Write down thoughts of participants • Ask for pauses and clarification as needed • Consider a section for “needs more information” • In the final, reflection phase, underline or circle to indicate common ground or tensions

10. 2. Ground Rules • Provide charge to participants (i.e., it’s the work of citizens to make choices about public issues) • Understand format is deliberation, not debate. • Encourage everyone to participate. • Do not let one or two individuals dominate. • Focus discussion on the choices. • Consider all positions on the issue. • Maintain an atmosphere conducive for discussion. • Listen to each other.

11. 3. Personal Stake • What is your personal experience with the issue? • What concerns you the most about the issue?

12. 4. Work Through Approaches • What do/don’t you like about this approach? • What underlying values are important to people who favor this approach? • What are the costs, consequences, and trade-offs? Questions the Moderator Can Ask • Why is this important to you? • How could that be accomplished? • Whose voice is not represented here? • See document on moderation questions for more ideas. Posted on course schedule.

13. 5. Post-Forum Reflection Personal Reflection • How has your thinking about issue changed? • What have you learned that surprised you? Group Reflection • Shared sense of direction or common ground? Tensions • What are we still struggling with as a group? • What do we still need to talk about? • Which trade offs are we (or are we not) willing to make? • Whose voice was not at the table? • What will you do with what you learned today?