Unlocking the Public's Energy Through Civic Dialogue

Citizen Choicework offers a powerful, proven approach to civic dialogue and action.

Too often, "community forums" are merely panels of experts telling people what's good for them. Or they are public free-for-alls, where only the loudest voices prevail.

In contrast, Citizen Choicework is based on a deep respect for the public's capacity to address issues when circumstances support, rather than thwart, dialogue and deliberation. Given the right conditions, the public's ability to learn, to get involved and to make decisions is far greater than most realize.

Why and how it works

Citizen Choicework builds on the insights of Public Agenda's co-founder Daniel Yankelovich on how the public comes to judgment on tough issues.

It is based on a commitment to helping citizens--individually and collectively--confront tough choices in productive ways. By doing so, people work through values conflicts and practical tradeoffs, and develop a sense of priorities and direction.

While Choicework initiatives are customized for different circumstances and can be more or less ambitious in scope and design, several key principles and guidelines are always at work:

• Broad-based, nonpartisan local leadership
• Inclusive participation-"beyond the usual suspects"
• Unbiased, accessible, thought-provoking Choicework discussion materials that start where the public starts
• Carefully trained moderators and recorders
• Strategic follow-up that leads to more informed policies, new collaborations, and innovative initiatives
• A commitment to helping communities build long-term capacity for this work