National Issues Forums Institute

05/28/2026

Last call! 📣

Applications for the Centers for Civic Life + Faculty Fellows program close tomorrow.

If your campus is ready to invest in better conversations, civic learning, and free speech, now’s the moment.

Join a national effort led by NIFI and The Madison Center for Civic Engagement.

🗓 Deadline: May 29
🔗 Apply now: https://shorturl.at/SGqhr

05/27/2026

Ready to learn more about bringing "What’s Next, America?" to your community — or deepen the work you’re already doing? We’re excited to help with a few new upcoming workshops! ✨

- Introduction to the “Talking About Values with Nuance” process (June 3)
- Facilitating “What’s Next?” Conversations (June 4)
- “Talking About Values with Nuance” Demonstration Forum (June 9)

Learn more and register here: https://whatsnextamerica.com/training-workshops/workshops-and-community-meetings/

05/25/2026

Less than one week left to apply!

If you’re a faculty member, administrator, or campus leader working to strengthen dialogue across difference, consider applying to the Centers for Civic Life + Faculty Fellows program from NIFI and The Madison Center for Civic Engagement.

This four-year program supports campuses in:
• Building spaces for productive dialogue
• Advancing free speech and civic engagement
• Connecting with a national network of practitioners

🗓 Deadline: May 29
🔗 Apply here: https://shorturl.at/h0jgO

05/20/2026

Cristin and Dawn joined a slate of awesome speakers last week for the NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Civic Discourse Virtual Summit. They worked together to answer the question "How can deliberation help students engage complex issues without shutting down disagreement?"

Thank you to Robert Medrano from University of Southern California, Deb Marke from Wake Forest University, and David Supp-Montgomerie from University of Iowa for joining us!

05/18/2026

🛠 Ready to bring “What’s Next, America?” to your community?

We just launched a new slate of workshops, intro sessions, and community gatherings to help organizers, facilitators, educators, and community leaders turn conversations into action. 💬➡️✨

Topics include:
🤝 Organizing local initiatives
🗣 Facilitating conversations
📈 Monitoring impact
🚀 Moving from conversation to action
💭 Talking about values with nuance

Whether you’re just getting started or already deep in the work, we’d love to learn alongside you.

🔗 Check out the full lineup + register here:
https://whatsnextamerica.com/training-workshops/workshops-and-community-meetings/

05/11/2026

NIFI and The Madison Center for Civic Engagement are launching something new — and applications are now open.

Colleges and universities are invited to apply to the inaugural cohort of Centers for Civic Life and national faculty fellows program, a four-year initiative supporting campuses in strengthening civic discourse and free speech through deliberative dialogue.

If your campus is thinking seriously about how to foster better conversations, this is for you!

🗓 Applications are open May 1 – May 29
🔗 Learn more + apply:

Centers for Civic Life and Faculty Fellows

05/07/2026

🎓 Conversations on campus aren’t always easy, but they matter.

Tomorrow, NIFI is joining the NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Civic Discourse Virtual Summit to share how deliberation can help students engage complex issues without shutting down disagreement.

📅 May 8
🕒 12:15 p.m. EDT
🔗 Link: https://tinyurl.com/n34brjuk

We’ll explore how structured dialogue can support student development and strengthen campus conversations.

05/05/2026

Today’s the day 🎉

We’re going live with our “What’s Next, America?” preview party at 2 p.m. ET.

Come hang out, hear how this initiative came to life, and be part of the conversation about what comes next.

We’ll have:
🎧 music
💬 interactive moments
👀 a first look at what’s ahead

Still time to join us.

🔗 Link to register: https://tinyurl.com/2ewmcefs

05/04/2026

It’s launch week 🎉

“What’s Next, America?” is almost here—and we’re kicking things off with a preview party on Monday.

We’ll be talking about the future of our communities, sharing tools, and starting the kinds of conversations this work is all about.

🗓 May 5 | ⏰ 2 p.m. ET
🔗 Register: https://tinyurl.com/2ewmcefs

05/01/2026

Our monthly newsletter just hit inboxes this morning! 📫

Take a look to see insider updates about our new "What's Next, America?" project, learn about how you can apply to be a faculty fellow through a new U.S. Department of Education grant, and get more news from NIFI and our network. Didn't get our newsletter? Don't miss us next month!

Subscribe at the bottom of our website: https://nifi.org/