Blogs

Does Our Work Really Matter? Deliberative Practitioners Reflect on the Impact of Their Work

Submitted by Jack Becker on Thu, 01/08/2015 - 11:55

As attention to public deliberation has increased, one core interest of researchers has been evaluating the impact of deliberative processes. Researchers, practitioners, elected officials, and participants themselves want to know if what they’re doing matters. Does public deliberation impact policy? Does it change our attitude toward issues? Does it adhere to democratic ideals?

A Conversation on the Nature of Leadership

Submitted by Jack Becker on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 11:32

As a topic of inquiry and self-help, leadership has been covered from many angles and by many disciplines. To learn more about leadership, former Kettering Foundation research assistant, Jack Becker, sat down at a recent Kettering Foundation research exchange with Tina Nabatchi, Martín Carcasson, and Jeffrey Nielson. All three have written either directly or peripherally on leadership. Their conversation spans the nature of leadership, ideas for reform, claims to new thinking, and how we can better manage demands for high-functioning leaders and organizations.

LIVE STREAM: The Changing World of Work

Submitted by Kettering Staff on Fri, 12/12/2014 - 10:24

Join us for a national conversation on The Changing World of Work: What Should We Ask of Higher Education?

On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, from 9 am-noon, the National Issues Forums Institute will stream the event live from the National Press Club on the all-new nifi.org.

New Video: The Creation of Politics

Submitted by Kettering Staff on Wed, 11/26/2014 - 09:08

Those of you who have participated in Kettering’s annual summer Deliberative Democracy Exchange have probably heard Kettering Foundation president David Mathews tell a story about a small village that faces a recurring flood. It is a fable of sorts. In spite of the villagers’ many efforts to stop the flood, the waters return again and again. So the people in the story had to make a decision: should they move across the river, where another band of people already live? Should they stay in their homeland? Or, should they move to higher ground?

On Immigration: In Search of a Public Voice

Submitted by Kettering Blog on Fri, 11/07/2014 - 16:10

The 2014 mid-term elections in the United States are complete, and the two major political parties are evaluating what the results mean for them politically. Both Republicans and Democrats appear to have adopted a stance that might best be described as: “I will say I will work with the other side, but only if they do what I want them to do.” This is, of course, a prescription for something other than “working together,” and it is likely to leave much of substance languishing.

Longtime KF Associate Kate Sheaffer Has Passed Away

Submitted by Kettering Blog on Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:05

Kate Sheaffer, a longtime associate who helped bring national attention to the Kettering Foundation’s work, died at a Hospice in Calvary Hospital in New York City Monday, November 3, after a long battle with cancer. She had been a prominent part of the KF family for more than 30 years.

Developing Our Civic Culture: State Legislators and Public Engagement

Photo taken at the National Conference of State Legislatures & Kettering Foundation Citizen Engagement Workshop • Dayton, Ohio • July 9-10, 2014

Submitted by Jack Becker on Mon, 10/13/2014 - 12:05

Hawaii state senator Les Ihara Jr. has found many state legislators interested in engaging, deliberating, and collaborating with citizens and stakeholders on public policy issues. Former Kettering Foundation research assistant Jack Becker recently sat down with Senator Ihara to talk about his work in supporting legislators’ citizen engagement interests.

Barn Raising Matters: Nancy Cantor at September Dayton Days

Submitted by Maura Casey on Tue, 09/30/2014 - 12:54

Maura Casey, a former New York Times editorial writer and now an associate with the Kettering Foundation, reports on Nancy Cantor’s recent visit to the Kettering Foundation. Cantor was invited to speak during September Dayton Days, our monthly research meeting. In particular, she was asked to address one of Kettering’s research questions involving institutions of higher education: How can community engagement practices evolve beyond service and volunteer models to contribute to and strengthen the civic life of communities?

Understanding the Public: Lessons from Public Agenda’s Jean Johnson

Submitted by Jack Becker on Tue, 09/30/2014 - 10:43

Since its founding in 1975, Public Agenda has been intimately involved in nonpartisan opinion research and stakeholder engagement.

Americans and the Environment: What’s At Issue?

Submitted by Kettering Blog on Tue, 09/23/2014 - 16:01

The environment doesn’t rank among our top priorities as a nation. Public opinion research shows that our most pressing concerns tend to revolve around the economy, unemployment, and the budget deficit.