Community Discussions

During October 2007, “Dialogues in Democracy" was a series of local deliberations in communities across the country, online and paper polling, and local and national broadcasts.

Site Locations, Stations, and Topics

  • Albuquerque, NM: KNME and Youth Development, Inc., gathered New Mexicans to address universal healthcare coverage for their state.
  • Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana Public Broadcasting assembled citizens to deliberate the state of the Louisiana healthcare system and approaches to reform.
  • Bowling Green and Cleveland, OH: WBGU-PBS and Bowling Green State University hosted Ohioans in Bowling Green, while in Cleveland, WVIZ PBS / Ideastream and Kent State University hosted another group. These two groups addressed the purpose of a public university.
  • Denver, CO: Regis University’s Institute on the Common Good, Colorado State University’s Center for Public Deliberation, the Civic Canopy, and Rocky Mountain PBS brought together approximately 100 Colorado residents to discuss the purpose of public education. This group addressed ways to improve state high school graduation rates.
  • Houston, TX: KUHT-TV and the Houston Public Library convened Texans to discuss air quality in Houston and the surrounding area.
  • Kansas City, MO: KCPT Public Television and Consensus hosted residents of surrounding Missouri and Kansas counties to discuss their regional transportation network.
  • New Haven, CT: CPTV and Gateway Community College enabled community members to debate the challenges of, proposed strategies for, and the impact of immigration on the New Haven area.
  • Omaha, NE: Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET Television) and University of Nebraska Public Policy Center tackled immigration in Nebraska. Group discussions and a plenary panel featuring Nebraska lawmakers, offered the opportunity to examine immigration’s impact on social services, equity, and the community.
  • Rochester, NY: WXXI Public Broadcasting and the Rochester Institute of Technology assembled residents of the greater Rochester area to address cost, quality, and access to community healthcare.
  • Seattle, WA: The Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington and KCTS Television allowed Seattle residents to discuss housing costs and availability of home ownership.


"By the People" is partnering with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation on the Dialogues in Democracy 2007 project.