NEWS

Davidson College President Doug Hicks '90 at the announcement for the Martin Institute for Public Good. (News of Davidson photo)

In a world that feels increasingly divided, the ability to engage in productive, respectful dialogue is more than a valuable skill; it is an essential practice we all can utilize in our civic, professional and personal lives.

Davidson is leading the way in building these capacities through the Martin Institute for Public Good’s Deliberative Citizenship Initiative. We invite you to sharpen your skills in navigating complex conversations through our upcoming fall programming. With both in-person and online options, these sessions offer hands-on opportunities to discuss challenging topics alongside Davidson students and community members as we strengthen our civil discourse muscles together.

For the first time, participants from 24 other higher education institutions in our new Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN) will be joining our DCI programs. The DCN is a national effort funded by a $4 million federal grant to assist 100 colleges and universities in expanding their dialogue, debate and deliberation programs, while also supporting the DCI’s work right here at Davidson.

Fall Deliberative “D” Teams

• Guided by DCI-trained facilitators, participants engage in three small-group discussions about challenging topics with students, faculty, staff and community members from Davidson and DCN institutions. Register by Sep. 3 to join a team.
• This fall’s topics connect timeless themes – technological change, economic fairness and the meaning of freedom – with highly salient policy issues.
  • The Future of AI: What We Will Gain, What Will We Lose and What Should We Do About It?
  • Affordability, Opportunity and Social Well-Being: Economic Fairness and the Proper Role of Government
  • What Does It Mean to Be Free? Guns, Drugs and Death

Fall Deliberative Forums

• The DCI’s Deliberative Forums are held from 7 to 9 p.m. and combine an expert roundtable with facilitated small-group deliberations among audience members. The roundtable discussions feature panelists with a wide range of perspectives on the issue at hand, engaging with one another in robust, respectful discourse on the topic at hand.
• This fall’s forums examine the challenges and opportunities facing both elections and higher education in our current political moment.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 6 – Deliberative Forum on The Future of Elections: Democracy, Representation and the Public Trust
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Deliberative Forum on The Future of Higher Education in American Life

Save these dates and sign up for updates on how to register for these upcoming events. You also can contact us at dci@davidson.edu and follow us on your favorite social media platform (Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn)

We hope you can join us in bridging divides and building our civic discourse skills this fall.