“What’s Next, America?” preview release: Communities are already beginning the conversation
Before its official July 8 launch, “What’s Next, America?” is already taking root.
In May, the National Issues Forums Institute hosted a launch “preview party” for this new national initiative, which is designed to help communities come together locally to talk, decide, and act on the issues that matter most to them.
Since then, partners across the country have begun organizing conversations on campuses, in classrooms, and in neighborhoods. These early efforts are helping communities ask, in their own way and in their own context: What’s next?
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, communities are thinking about the kind of future they want to build together. Many are asking hard and hopeful questions about belonging, trust, opportunity, public life, and shared responsibility.
At its core, “What’s Next, America?” helps communities deliberate together around three questions:
Where are we now?
Where do we want to go?
How will we get there?
Those conversations lead into an action summit, where participants work together to name concrete next steps and sign up to help move ideas into action.
The initiative builds on NIFI’s decades of work in public deliberation and on successful state-based efforts in Alabama and West Virginia. Deliberation helps people slow down, listen across different perspectives, weigh options and tradeoffs, and identify shared directions for moving forward.
Rather than offering one answer for every place, “What’s Next, America?” helps communities develop responses that reflect their own needs, strengths, priorities, and local context.
To support local efforts, NIFI provides free materials, trainings, and opportunities to connect and learn with others doing similar work.
Resources include:
- Participant guides for community, K–12, and higher education settings
- Planning guides for organizing and facilitating conversations
- Reflection journals to track progress and request feedback
- An interactive map of local efforts
- Toolkits, templates, and organizing resources
🤝 Collaborative Learning Opportunities
- Monthly intro sessions to explore how “What’s Next, America?” fits your context
- Workshops on planning, facilitation, monitoring impact, and moving from conversation to action
- Community of practice convenings to share ideas and troubleshoot challenges
- Special-topic trainings and coaching opportunities
- Drop-in office hours and one-on-one support
Find resources and learn more here: https://whatsnextamerica.com/resources/
Questions about programming or getting started? Contact Dawn Harfmann at dharfmann@nifi.org. Already organizing a conversation or have a story to share? Contact Christine Fernando at cfernando@nifi.org.
We can’t wait to see what communities build together.
