CivicCLP, a civic engagement initiative of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, in partnership with the Art of Democracy, will host two opportunities in October 2020 for informed and inclusive virtual public deliberations on the U.S. Economy, a key issue facing the country this election year.

Using issue guides and other resources created for the National Issues Forum With the People initiative, CivicCLP will host online forums on the following dates and times:

Let’s Talk About… How Should We Rebuild Our Economy?

Virtual seating is limited and registration is required. Participants are asked to pick one virtual session to attend.

• Option 1: Wednesday, October 21 | 6:00 – 7:30 pm
  Register here
• Option 2: Saturday, October 24 | 10:00 – 11:30 am
  Register here

At the conclusion of each online forum, participates will complete a survey capturing their views on the topic of the forum. Survey results from these local conversations will be added to a developing national database of informed public opinion resulting from deliberative engagement events being hosted in communities and on college campuses throughout the United States as part of the National Issues Forums With the People initiative.

CivicCLP is a three-year, grant-funded initiative which aims to provide the community with a greater understanding of the importance of the First Amendment in civic life through enhanced Library programs, services and resources. For this initiative, CivicCLP will partner with The Art of Democracy, a Pittsburgh civic engagement consultancy focused on engaging difference as a resource for civic innovation.

According to Jessica Bayless, Civic & Social Information Services Lead Librarian at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, “This partnership will focus on inclusion. We are committed to tapping into existing networks that will help us uncover and reveal a wide and diverse range of perspectives on these difficult issues. Providing people from different backgrounds with the opportunity to engage neighbors they may not often hear from or listen to, we hope to engage local people in ways that spur them towards further engagement in the future—voting in the upcoming election, yes, but also ongoing engagement and deliberation through CivicCLP.”

The Art of Democracy will facilitate local engagement and make sure that local voices are integrated with a national initiative for deliberative civic engagement spearheaded by the National Issues Forum: With the People. As Tim Dawson, founder and co-principal of the Art of Democracy explains, “In a democracy, the voice of the people should guide the work of policy makers. Public deliberation provides an opportunity for people to ‘think out loud and together’, to learn from one another and to gain a richer understanding of the problems and possibilities we have as a community. When our opinions are informed by expert information and by the lived experience of our diverse neighbors, the guidance we give policymakers is more likely to address our problems and take advantage of our opportunities in equitable ways.”

• Questions about this initiative can be addressed to Jessica Bayless at: baylessj@carnegielibrary.org or by phone at 412-622-3319
• Further information about CivicCLP can be found at: carnegielibrary.org/civicclp
• Further information about the Art of Democracy can be found at: tim@theartofdemocracy.org, 412-996-6014, theartofdemocracy.org

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