Dialogue, according to William Isaacs, is the "art of thinking together."  It stands in sharp contrast to the usual experience of debate and polarization that is too often a part of our civic life.  In dialogue, people come together to reach a deeper understanding--of an issue, of our world, and of each other.  It is a face-to-face encounter, and often involves suspending what one already believes in order to hear the views of others, especially those with whom we disagree.  Not that we let go of those beliefs.  We just suspend them long enough to listen to others in new ways, and to open up new possibilities.  Dialogue holds out the possibility of finding new ways to approach old problems, and creates opportunities for collaboration across our differences.

Over the past decade, a number of organizations have developed a number of powerful tools and processes for engaging small and large groups in dialogue and other forms of public conversations.  For a useful overview of a variety of methods and approaches, visit the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation website at http://www.thataway.org/resources/index.html