The National Dialogue Forums 

During 2008 and 2009, we will hold National Dialogue Forums—“traveling town halls”—with local civic partners in communities across America. We selected the locations on the basis of social, economic and other demographic data and relevance to the major issues facing the nation and the 2008 Presidential campaign. Depending on our local partners, we will use a variety of formats for the forums, including roundtables and town hall-style meetings. Our partners will be drawn from a wide variety of civic organizations, including chambers of commerce, social service providers, university centers, religious denominations, and national organizations with local affiliates. In the course of holding three or four events in each location, we hope to have the broadest possible participation in the Dialogues and ensure that we have heard from a cross-section of America.

Participants can continue the conversation begun in their towns--and follow the Dialogues in other locations--by means of our American Conversation discussion group moderated by the project director. Finally, themes and views, and indeed, actual voices from the Dialogues, will be incorporated into our report published at the end of 2009 and distributed to Washington policymakers and the public at large.

2008 National Dialogue Forums

• Johnstown, Pennsylvania--June 17-19, 2008
• Cincinnati, Ohio--October 21-25, 2008

2009 National Dialogue Forums

• Las Cruces, New Mexico--April 13-17, 2009
• Birmingham, Alabama--June 8-10, 2009
• Boise, Idaho--August 4-6, 2009
• Tampa, Florida--September 21-23, 2009
  
• Santa Clara, California--October 7-8, 2009