Bridging and Advocating in Divided Times
Partner Event: Bridging and Advocating in Divided Times: Navigating the Tension for Stronger Civic Practice
Hosted By: National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
Location: Virtual
Date: Monday, April 21, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
From the Organizers:
In today’s polarized climate, it can feel harder than ever to engage in meaningful dialogue and public engagement without being perceived as taking sides. This work is clearly needed, yet many of us are navigating the challenge of holding space for diverse perspectives while responding to calls for action and clarity of values. As we engage with social change issues, we often walk a delicate line between remaining trustworthy facilitators and acknowledging concerns about the direction of our shared civic life.
This webinar invites the NCDD community and our friends from across the civic landscape to explore these complexities through the lens of polarity management—a framework that helps navigate tensions when essential values and approaches seem in conflict.
Presenters, Julia Roig and Jarvis Williams of The Horizons Project, and Dr. Martin Carcasson of the Center for Public Deliberation will guide us in examining the relationship between dialogue and advocacy—not as opposing forces, but as complementary approaches that strengthen civic practice. Together, we’ll explore how dialogue and deliberation professionals can support changemakers without compromising their integrity, and how the energy of advocacy can, in turn, enrich the democratic potential of engagement work. Whether you're a facilitator, organizer, public servant, or community leader, this session will offer practical tools and fresh insights to help you navigate these complexities with care, clarity, and courage.