The American Democracy Project (ADP) Summit gathered faculty, students, and civic‑minded campus leaders in downtown Indianapolis to “encourage campus collaboration, build leadership skillsets, and strengthen the narrative for higher education’s pivotal role in building a strong democracy” on July 13 – 14, 2025. As a thought partner and Summit sponsor, the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI) highlighted deliberative democracy at every possible opportunity during the two‑day meeting. NIFI board and staff members offered a hands‑on workshop on deliberative issue framing, provided a brief closing‑plenary introduction of NIFI’s work, and hosted a booth in the Solutions Hub.

The National Issues Forums Institute believes so much in the mission of the American Democracy Project that six NIFI Board members represented the organization alongside Executive Director Cristin Brawner: David Allred, Cathy Copeland, Hollie Cost, Kara Dillard, Patty Robinson, and Kimberly Rosenfeld. We’re so grateful to the NIFI leadership for making this Summit a priority.

Workshop Spotlight

During the Summit, NIFI Executive Director Cristin Brawner, NIFI Board Chair Dr. Kara Dillard, and NIFI Board Vice-Chair Dr. Hollie Cost led a workshop on deliberative issue framing. The session, entitled “Fresh Perspectives, Full Participation: Deliberative Framing in Action,” provided participants with an opportunity to experience and practice deliberative issue framing for themselves.

Workshop attendees learned that deliberative framing moves conversations beyond polarizing binaries toward a fuller range of options for informed decision‑making. They also heard stories and examples from panelists about the pivotal role deliberative framing plays in their work to equip students for active citizenship and engaged civic leadership. Dr. Dillard gave examples from the campuswide deliberation program – Better Conversations Together – that she leads at James Madison University. Dr. Cost shared examples from a handful of community-wide forum series she led as a professor and former mayor in the community of Montevallo, AL.

After hearing briefly from panelists, participants experienced deliberative issue framing firsthand during a “flash framing” session to conclude the workshop. The topic chosen was one that is top of mind for many in higher education in 2025: academic freedom. Participants practiced gathering concerns about the topic; clustering those concerns around deeply held values, like security or freedom, into three or four distinct approaches for addressing the issues; and, finally, identifying possible actions and accompanying tradeoffs for each potential approach.

NIFI in the Solutions Hub

NIFI board and staff members also loved talking directly with students, faculty, staff, and fellow nonprofit leaders at the NIFI booth in the Summit’s “Solutions Hub.” Summit participants who stopped by NIFI’s booth learned about our nonpartisan discussion guides, upcoming training opportunities, and higher-education-focused resources. Summit attendees even received NIFI‑branded sunglasses when they stopped by the NIFI booth. NIFI joined a robust roster of Summit partners in the Solutions Hub, highlighting the collaborative spirit at the heart of the ADP network.

Brief Introduction at the Closing Plenary

During the Summit’s closing plenary, NIFI Executive Director Cristin Brawner took a moment to introduce NIFI’s mission and invite attendees to partner with NIFI. In concise remarks, she highlighted NIFI’s commitment to:

• Equipping campuses and communities with nonpartisan discussion guides and framing resources.
• Empowering facilitators through training that builds civic skills and confidence.
• Mobilizing partners nationwide to utilize deliberation as a tool for talking, deciding, and acting better together.

The brief overview set the stage for future collaboration, encouraging participants to explore upcoming NIFI workshops and be on the lookout for new nonpartisan discussion guides, tools, and resources.

Why This Partnership Matters

NIFI and ADP share a vision of “full participation”—campuses where students, faculty, and administrators use deliberation to take action for the public good. The National Issues Forums Institute was honored to serve as a thought partner and Summit sponsor for the American Democracy Project. We are inspired by their mission, work, and network. We left the Summit even more invigorated in our commitment to equipping, empowering, and mobilizing the next generation of civic leaders.