As conveners and managers of people who have challenges and need to solve problems, we’re usually asked to help groups figure out what their members collectively think – what the priorities actually are. That sounds simple enough but it almost never is … thus we facilitate those conversations.

People and groups are almost always surprised by what they collectively think – where they diverge and what they have in common. (Spoiler alert: They usually have a LOT in common, we just help them discover it.)

Public Agenda recently released a multi-year study to find out what Americans think about the state of Democracy and how to strengthen it. The short answer is, “… Americans … feel a sense of responsibility to help find solutions to the problems facing communities and the nation … most are open to a variety of approaches to community problem solving, especially if they can contribute their skills and experiences, someone they respect invites them and public officials are there to listen.”

Here’s the more complete answer. Read More …