Still Doing Democracy!

A project fostering knowledge, understanding, and skills for Engaged Citizens.

 

 

Democracy requires that people are engaged in the everyday work of creating a ‘more perfect union.’ Active participation is necessary to sustain and expand the progress made to protect human rights, create safe and healthy communities, and preserve the natural world.

Still Doing Democracy! offers a model for developing understanding, collaboration, and positive social change to overcome the barriers that divide us through:

• understanding context – differences in beliefs, backgrounds, and perspectives,
• appreciating lived experience – listening to people’s stories about their lives and what they value,
• critical questioning – analyzing and calling out societal myths and the views and values of individuals and groups that seek to oppress and limit the power of the people and alienate us from one another, and
• emancipatory action – engaging collaboratively and effectively in systemic social change.

Learning Opportunities

• Blog posts analyzing issues and applying the framework to develop responses and strategies.
• Podcasts focused on the practice of democracy with interviews of scholar/practitioners and activists.
• Interactive opportunities including webinars and asynchronous modules on analyzing belief systems, practicing intentional listening and collaborative conversations, identifying shared values, and developing strategies to work on common purposes.  (Under development)
• A Still Doing Democracy! workbook posted online (Under development)
• Resource list including essential books, articles, and organizations, including legacy and new initiatives.
• A new book, Still Doing Democracy! by JoAnn McAllister, Jim Smith and Steven Soifer (soon to be published)

The Team

JoAnn McAllister, Jim Smith, and Steven Soifer bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the task of being an effective and engaged citizen. They propose a framework for working in our divided and polarized social and political environment with understanding and practical tools to find the common ground that can support collective action for the common good.

 

 

Still Doing Democracy! is a sponsored project of the non-profit Human Sciences Institute. You can support our work with a tax-deductible contribution at: https://humanscienceinstitute.org.