Conversation Cafe

"Let's Talk America" further information

Let's Talk America (USA) continued from calendar

For more information about Let's Talk America see http://wwwletstalkamerica.org

Ways to Get Involved in LTA

There are many ways you can participate in Let's Talk America -- from attending a discussion or hosting a group in your neighborhood, to convening a larger LTA effort in your city or region. Read the descriptions below, then join our email list (see the web site above) and let us know how you'd like to get involved.

Participant
Host
Convenor
Endorser
Volunteer
Donor


Participant: As a Participant, you are the heart of soul of this initiative. When you show up and contribute your best thinking to the dialogues, America truly begins to Talk!. You will be joined by hundreds of thousands of Americans who seek to understand and revitalize democracy, who dream the same dream of a compassionate yet strong nation of generous and principled people, and who have the courage and curiosity to discover what their fellow Americans really think and feel. The value of this role can not be underestimated.

Host: As a Host, you may plan one or more LTA dialogues using a simple process like the Conversation Cafe, or some other dialogue process that you prefer. You may choose to hold this in your home, church or organization, etc. Minimally, all LTA events will have a host/facilitator and a structure for the discussion that allows for deep, inclusive dialogue. You list the event on the LTA website (which provides zip code look-up for other guests) and calendar. You manage the logistics and publicity involved in getting people to the conversation. You complete a simple questionnaire on this website to report on the ideas and themes that emerge, and encourage participants to do so as well.

Convenor: Would you like to create a regional hub for LTA? Convenors help form these hubs which serve as the vital centers of LTA. You first work develop a local leadership network to represent the widest possible spectrum of constituencies and thinking in the community. Then you plan to convene large public LTA dialogues, while managing the logistics and publicity. We can help you find Dialogue and Deliberation professionals in your area. You list all events on our website (zip code look-up and calendar). You can use a variety of dialogue processes and provide feedback on what works.

Endorser: Your endorsement helps the initiative grow. Whether an Organization or a well-known individual, you can support LTA by lending your name and linking your events, as well as by spreading the word to your networks. We welcome the widest possible spectrum of political and cultural perspectives and stakeholders to help us diversify perspectives and bring legitimacy of the project to a wide range of constituencies. Endorsers may submit a brief paragraph of endorsement, which will be posted with a link your site. If your organization is planning an event that involves conversation and honors our principles (inclusive, non partisan, respectful), we encourage you to "co-brand" the event with LTA and list it on the website (zip code look-up and calendar). This partnership gives added leverage and publicity to both your event and LTA.

Volunteer: Want to help, but not ready to host? We can give your email to Convenors or Hosts in your area to contact you. You can help spread the word about LTA to your circles. You may know of a good meeting space or have media connections. You can work with the Hosts on following up with the invites, perhaps help set the room up or make coffee and tea to make the event welcoming and stay behind at the end to clean up, or anything else to support Hosts and Convenors.

Donor: Every dollar you donate will help grow this initiative. Everyone is invited to give to the overall campaign, whether a small donation of $10 or $20, or a large contribution of $1,000 or $10,000. Hosts and Convenors can use our 501c3 and materials to fundraise in your local community: we will ask that you then pledge 10% per cent of any funds raised specifically for LTA events to the national initiative, to support this website and other infrastructure costs. These funds will help the initiative grow to the benefit of all. Yet no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

Let us know how you'd like to get involved with LTA. Join our email list now. (see the web site above to join the email list).

Design Team Organizations

National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
Conversation Cafes
The World Caf?©
Utne Institute
Democracy in America Convention

Fiscal Agent

The Institute on the Common Good at Regis University

For involvement in Let's Talk America in the Metro Louisville-Southern Indiana areas please call John Hartmann at 502-454-4820 or email at johnhartmann@iglou.com

Other important web sites:

http://www.conversationcafe.org

http://www.theworldcafe.com

http://www.regis.edu/regis.asp

Thank you!

Email us
johnhartmann@iglou.com