Practicing Democracy: Seeking Common Ground

MHC's latest program, Practicing Democracy: Seeking Common Ground, will bring Marylanders together for a series of public discussion forums. The goal is to produce real and respectful debate among people of different opinions and points of view.

In 2010, discussion forums will focus on:

• Environment

• Sustainability

• Real estate development

• Historic preservation

• Transportation

How will MHC achieve this? By using a shared humanities experience such as hearing from a scholar; reading a story, essay, or poem; watching a short film; or participating in or attending a performance, MHC hopes to engage audiences in these topics and make information sharing possible.

MHC will experiment with a variety of formats for producing effective civic dialogue. The goal is to determine what processes best create an environment for a meaningful exchange.

For Practicing Democracy: Seeking Common Ground, MHC will partner with other nonprofits and for-profit organizations across Maryland, especially those that have a track record of bringing people with diverse points of view together. These partner organizations will help shape program content, build audiences and host events.

As a result of this series of programs, MHC will develop a toolkit of processes and materials that other organizations can use to create their own dialogues.

Click here to read the case statement.

Click here to see the list of advisory committee members.

Programs begin fall 2010.