Naming and Framing Public Issues 1 Beyond Deadlock: A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues...

Naming and Framing Public Issues

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Beyond Deadlock: A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

Webinar 1October 14, 2014; 4 EDT, 3 CDT, 2 MDT, 1 PDT

Overview of Naming and Framing

1. Beyond Deadlock: A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

Learn better ways to help people work together to talk about public issues and make choices.

Uncover the deeper concerns of our communities by listening to people reveal what really matters to them.

2. Tools for Naming and Framing Public Issues Apply tools to develop issue maps that help people weigh options for

moving forward together.

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Sponsors

ALA Center for Civic Life Promotes community engagement and fosters

public deliberation through libraries. David Mathews Center for Civic Life

Fosters infrastructure, habits, and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative decision making.

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Webinar Participants Respond

Type into the chat box any questions as we go along.

We’ll either respond as we go, or wait until the end.

Begin by saying hello and telling us where you’re located.

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Overview of Webinar: Naming and Framing Public Issues

1. Community Issues2. Naming & Framing 3. Problem Types4. Diverse Perspectives5. Public Deliberation6. Public Space7. Q&A

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Naming and Framing Bullying

Chris McCauleyDavid Mathews Center for Civic LifeNaming and Framing Public Issues

Beyond Deadlock: A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

cmccauley@mathewscenter.org6

Identifying the Issue

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Naming the Issue: What Do People Care About?

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Naming the issue in public terms: “Our kids are suffering”; “I stopped going to school” Share concerns – What do we hold valuable? Wicked problems (like bullying) do not have a single, clear solution – multiple approaches emerge when we share concerns

Framing the Issue: What Should We Do About It?

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Alabamians framed three unique approaches to addressing bullying Approaches:

1. Get Tough On Bullying2. Equip Students to Address

Bullying3. Engage the Community and

Parents in Bullying Solutions Developed an issue guide that included information on bullying and approaches

Deliberating on the Issue

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Using the framework, Alabamians deliberated on bullying throughout 2012 – 2013 Examined approaches, weighed costs and consequences, discussed tradeoffs, made decisions, and took action Neutral moderators and recorders 156 forums, 44 counties, 4,500 citizens

Acting Publicly

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Action: Birmingham librarians, Selma summit, and Troy 5K Still learning together Comprehensive report outlining themes and common ground - Public Judgment Not scientific, no handbook, no single “strategy”

Naming & Framing Issues for Deliberation

Cristin FosterDavid Mathews Center for Civic Life

Naming and Framing Public IssuesBeyond Deadlock:

A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

cfoster@mathewscenter.org12

Public Opinion to Public Judgment

Source: Yankelovich, Daniel. Coming to Public Judgment. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1991

Naming Issues for Deliberation

Naming issues for deliberation captures the shared concerns of citizens. It defines a problem in public terms - terms that are meaningful to citizens.

Issue Bullying

Expert Terms Power imbalance and a repetition of a pattern of behavior

Public Terms Kids are suffering; “I don’t want to go to school”

Source: Kettering Foundation, Naming and Framing Difficult issues to Make Sound Decisions, (Dayton, OH: Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 2011), Pp. 2 – 5.

Framing Issues for Deliberation

Uncovers approaches, or options, for acting on a problem. Highlights potential solutions to the issue as well as inherent tensions, tradeoffs, costs, and consequences.

Source: Kettering Foundation, Naming and Framing Difficult issues to Make Sound Decisions, (Dayton, OH: Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 2011), Pp. 6 – 8. Source: Kettering Foundation,” Framing Issues for Deliberating to Make Choices: A Curriculum Guide for Workshops,” Participant Resource Book: Research Report on Public Deliberation and Public Action, (Dayton, OH: Charles F. Kettering Foundation, 2002), Pp. 23-29.

Why Naming & Framing for Deliberation?

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Source: Adapted from Naming and Framing Difficult Issues to Make Sound Decisions (Kettering Foundation: Dayton, OH), 2011, Pg. 17.

Types of Problems

Robert TurnerDavid Mathews Center for Civic Life

Naming and Framing Public IssuesBeyond Deadlock:

A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

rturner@mathewscenter.org 17

Types of Problems

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“Who defines a problem and the name it is given determine the number of people who will be available to solve it and the kind of response that will emerge.” (21)David Mathews, For Communities to Work

Tame Problems

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TAME PROBLEMSProblems that have clear, scientific solutions. Outcome is very clear.

Examples:1.) Chemist determining the structure of a compound2.) Pythagorean Theorem3.) Chess player attempting to achieve checkmate in five moves

Source: Rittel, Horst W.J. & Webber, Melvin M. “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning.” Policy Sciences 4 (1973): 155 – 169. Digital.

Wicked Problems

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WICKED PROBLEMSDifficult to define; no clear solution. Tricky and aggressive. Outcomes are uncertain.

Examples:1. Bullying2. Changing school curriculum3. National debt

Source: Rittel, Horst W.J. & Webber, Melvin M. “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning.” Policy Sciences 4 (1973): 155 – 169. Digital.

Examples of Wicked Problems

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POLL QUESTIONS:

Can you think of any specific examples of wicked problems in your community? If so, would you be willing to share with the group by typing them into the chat box?

Types of Problems – Conclusion

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Our Approach:1. Not prescriptive2. Not exhaustive3. Emphasizes democratic practices4. Emphasizes shared learning5. Encourages citizens to address wicked problems in

creative ways6. Focuses on building relationships, making decisions,

and strengthening communities

Community IssuesCommunity Issues

Carolyn CaywoodALA Center for Civic Life

Naming and Framing Public Issues

Beyond Deadlock: A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues

Convener, Virginia Beach Public Library Forums

and

Fellow, Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement

Contact Carolyn at: cacaywood@cox.net

Redevelopment = Ending blight Highest & best use Economic development versus Loss of property rights Loss of history

Loss of community

Community IssuesCommunity Issues

Need:

Community voicesfor

Values & concerns Diverse perspectives Transparency/trust

Community IssuesCommunity Issues

Community IssuesCommunity Issues

Community IssuesCommunity Issues

What is deliberation?

Presenter: Patty DineenNational Issues Forums Institute

Contact Patty at: dineenp@msn.com

Building an Issue Framework

“Experts and the public see the various facets of issues from such different perspectives that there is usually a huge gap to bridge.”

“...requires doing research to learn what the expert and public perceptions of an issue are and then comparing them and finding a method to bridge the differences between them...”

What is a framework for deliberation? A basic structure A tool to help people work on a

public problem

Helps people consider several possible approaches

Presents information, costs, consequences, tradeoffs

Helps people make choices about what to do

De*lib"er*ate From Latin deliberatus, (“I consider, weigh well”), from de + *libero, libro (“I weigh”), from *libera, libra (“a balance”)

1. Weighing facts and arguments with a view to a choice or decision; carefully considering the probable consequences of a step

People deliberate about health insurance

Deliberation is a kind of talk that helps people with diverse views and experiences work on a public problem together by carefully considering a variety of approaches to a problem.

Using Public Space for Naming and Framing Workshops

Nancy KranichALA Center for Civic Life

Naming and Framing Public IssuesBeyond Deadlock:

A Better Way to Talk about Difficult Issues nancy.kranich@rutgers.edu

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Withdrawal from the Public Square

Far too many have fled the public square

No means to engage Loss of public space

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Hearing the Other Side

Too few opportunities exist today that expose Americans to diverse views and engage them in authentic dialogue about pressing problems

Safe Public Spaces

“Places essential to the political processes of democracy”—Ray Oldenburg

Trusted Safe spaces Neutral Boundary spanning Accessible For everyone/inclusive Interactive Respectful of all voices

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Welcome all voices Courteous, fair and even handed Balanced, focused and productive participation Carefully designed moderation and facilitation Room set up for all to contribute

Welcome Participants

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Safe Community Places

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Grounded in the community Leveraged through partnerships Diverse and Inclusive Comfortable for all

Questions?

Contact informationCarolyn Caywood, cacaywood@cox.net

Patty Dineen, dineenp@msn.comCristin Foster, cfoster@mathewscenter.orgNancy Kranich, nancy.kranich@rutgers.edu

Chris McCauley, cmccauley@mathewscenter.orgRobert Turner, rturner@mathewscenter.org

Learn more and continue today’s conversation on ALA Connect: Libraries Foster Community Engagement

Webinar, Session 2

Tools for Naming And Framing

Public Issues

Wednesday December 3, 2014

4 pm EST, 3 pm CST, 2 pm MST, 1 pm PSTTo register for Session 2, visit:

https://t.e2ma.net/click/qc3gg/iiim8i/25l88b