National Issues Forums Institute

08/26/2026

⏰ Join us TOMORROW for our August "What’s Next, America?" Community Roundtable!

We’re getting together to swap ideas, troubleshoot, and learn from each other—with a special focus on organizing a “What’s Next?” initiative and questions about mini-grants.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been doing deliberative work for years, come join the conversation! 💬

📅 Tomorrow, Aug. 27 | 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
🔗 Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ur3Yl3tuSuCCAr97XWpZrg #/registration

See you there! 🌟

08/24/2026

For this month's partner spotlight, NIFI wants to celebrate and thank The Madison Center for Civic Engagement for their many years of thoughtful partnership! 🎉 NIFI and JMU are currently working together to advance K-12 civics education and bring the K-12 "What's Next, America?" initiative to educators across the country.

Learn more about the partnership here: https://www.jmu.edu/news/2025/10/06_america-250-grant.shtml

08/20/2026

🌟 "What’s Next, America?" Community Roundtables are back!

Join us next Thursday, Aug. 27 for an interactive hour of connection, idea-sharing, and collective problem-solving with folks working on "What’s Next?" and deliberative democracy across the country.

This month, we’ll dig into organizing a “What’s Next?” initiative—sharing ideas, troubleshooting challenges, and learning from each other. We’ll also leave time for mini-grant questions and any other ideas or challenges you want to bring to the group!

📅 Aug. 27 | 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
🔗 Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ur3Yl3tuSuCCAr97XWpZrg #/registration

Bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity! 💙

08/19/2026

We're so excited to see how communities answer "What's Next, Alabama?" Learn more here!

It's TIME!!!! ⏰ Registration is open for the 10th Civic Institute!

This year’s Civic Institute is co-sponsored by the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), which recently launched “What’s Next, America?” a nationwide community-focused conversation series about America's next 250 years.

The Civic Institute will serve as the soft launch for a yearlong initiative to bring these thoughtful conversations to communities throughout Alabama. Participants in this highly interactive event will receive copies of books and other resources from the DMC and NIFI.

Get your tickets NOW! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-david-mathews-centers-10th-civic-institute-tickets-1998385909049

We hope to see you there!🩵

08/19/2026

The city of Montevallo, Alabama is already asking “What’s Next, Montevallo?”

At a series of community conversations, including a youth-focused one, residents discussed hopes for a more vibrant downtown entertainment district, housing that could accommodate growth without sacrificing Montevallo’s character, expanded economic opportunity, youth programming and more gathering spaces for community events. And they’ve already set off on turning their ideas into action.

Learn more: https://whatsnextamerica.com/https-whatsnextamerica-com-whats-next-montevallo-alabama/

08/17/2026

Elevating student voices = real change! 🙌

The NIFI team had an energizing visit to Detroit, where Detroit CARES and the Institute for Strengthening Communities brought together students from across Michigan to use deliberation to reimagine how they'd improve their classrooms and education system as a whole.

Their message to adults? Take us seriously! 🎤

Huge shout-out to Michael Steinbeck, one of NIFI's newest board members and executive director of Detroit CARES Mentoring, and the Institute for Strengthening Communities!

Students have ideas, insight, and perspective. Let's make sure we're listening. 💬✨

08/14/2026

💡 Have you watched our big announcement yet?

Our Executive Director, Cristin Brawner, shares why we're launching the "What's Next, America?" Community Grant Fund—and how these new Spark Grants can help communities come together to talk, decide, and act.

If you've been thinking about applying (or know someone who should!), this is the perfect place to start. 🎥✨

Watch the video, get inspired, and help us spread the word by sharing it with your network! 💙

Learn more: https://whatsnextamerica.com/whats-next-america-community-grant-fund/

08/12/2026

🎉 Please join us in welcoming three outstanding new members to the NIFI Board of Directors!

We're thrilled to welcome Kenny McGuane, Michael Steinback of Detroit CARES Mentoring, and Timothy J. Shaffer of SNF Ithaca Initiative to our board.

Together, they bring decades of experience in community leadership, civic engagement, communications, deliberative democracy, and public service that will help strengthen NIFI’s mission of building a more participatory, deliberative democracy. We're so happy they're here!

Learn more: https://nifi.org/national-issues-forums-institute-new-board-of-directors/

08/10/2026

📣 Tomorrow's the day!

Join CFLeads and NIFI on Aug. 11 to explore how "What's Next, America?" can help bring people together, strengthen civic life, and turn community conversations into meaningful action.

You'll also learn about our new community mini-grant opportunities and hear how community foundations in particular can put this work into practice.

📅 Aug. 11 | 1–2 p.m. ET
✍️SIGN UP: https://cfleads.org/learning-opportunity/whats-next-america-for-community-foundations/

08/07/2026

📬 Our August newsletter has landed!

Inside this month's edition:
✨ Our new "What's Next, America?" Community Grant Fund
🎉 Three new members join the NIFI Board of Directors
📅 Upcoming workshops and events

Happy reading! ☀️