It’s never been more important to talk to each other about tough problems. Practice listening with empathy and respect, considering other perspectives, and weighing the trade-offs of possible actions in a National Issues Forum at the library. The Deliberative Conversations throughout 2020 will focus on the Hidden Common Ground initiative.

Plan to Attend

Once you choose which conversation to attend, please register at the links below for each event. Consider inviting someone to join you, especially someone with a different perspective, life experience or background than you.

2020 Deliberative Conversations

The Division in Our Country

Download the A House Divided issue guide from National Issues Forum.

  • Tuesday, February 11, 2020 | 2:30-4pm | Anton Room 202 | Registration
  • Tuesday, February 18, 2020 | 11am-1pm | Learning Center | Registration
  • ONLINE ONLY Wednesday, February 19, 2020 | 7-9pm | ONLINE | Registration
  • Saturday, February 22, 2020 | 9:30-11am | Learning Center | Registration
  • ONLINE ONLY Tuesday, February 25, 2020 | 9:30-11:30am | ONLINE | Registration

Our Health Care System

Download the Health Care: How Can We Bring Costs Down While Getting the Care We Need? issue guide from National Issues Forum.

  • Friday, March 6, 2020 | 9-11:30am | Learning Center | Registration
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2020 | 11am-1pm | Learning Center | Registration
  • Saturday, April 18, 2020 | 9:30-11am | Learning Center | Registration
  • Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | 2:30-4pm | Anton Room 202 | Registration

Our Immigration System

  • Tuesday, June 16, 2020 | 11am-1pm | Learning Center | Registration
  • Friday, June 19, 2020 | 9-11:30am | Learning Center | Registration
  • Tuesday, June 23, 2020 | 2:30-4pm | Anton Room 202 | Registration
  • Saturday, July 11, 2020 | 9:30-11am | Learning Center | Registration

Our Economy

  • Tuesday, September 22, 2020 | 2:30-4pm | Anton Room 202 | Registration
  • Saturday, October 3, 2020 | 9:30-11am | Learning Center | Registration
  • Friday, October 9, 2020 | 9-11:30am | Learning Center | Registration
  • Tuesday, October 20, 2020 | 11am-1pm | Learning Center | Registration

Notes from the 2019 Deliberative Conversations

Safety and Justice

How should communities reduce violence?

Notes from October 2019 Deliberative Conversation on Safety and Justice

Mental Illness in America

How do we address a growing mental health problem?

A House Divided

What would we have to give up to get the political system we want?

Obesity in America

How should we reduce obesity in America?

Notes from November 2019 Deliberative Conversation on Obesity in America

Alcohol and Drug Use

What should we do when alcohol and drug use become a problem to society?

Attend

How does a deliberative conversation work?

Between 12-20 people with a variety of perspectives will follow a National Issues Forum guide to discuss an issue. Each conversation will address an issue that doesn’t have one perfect answer. Please email connect@tscpl.org or call 785-580-4629 for more information.

What happens after a deliberative forum?

Everyone is asked to continue learning and understanding the issue, to ask better questions, and to look both more broadly and more deeply at possible actions to address the big issues communities face while considering the tradeoffs to those actions.

Partners