As cities around the world move towards a more sustainable way of life, it’s important to have an understanding of the different terminology that is used and its implications on environmental issues. Each citizen can make an impact on their community and their environment, by simply being more informed on the issues. We have access to so much information, but it can be overwhelming. This resource breaks down a list of environmental words and phrases you may hear in the news or read in an article. Under each word is a brief definition along with websites that have more information.

When you approach community problems, mindfulness can broaden your perspective. You can gain awareness of the context surrounding a problem, and the layered and diverse perspectives of those affected by the problem, whatever the problem may be.

When a situation calls for community-based engagement, it is important to have someone there who can lead the discussion in an efficient, effective way. Facilitators play an important role in community discussions; they are the ones to keep the discussion on track and guide the conversation to a productive place. 

The National Issues Forum issue advisory states that one in five Americans will have mental health problems in any given year. But, many individuals feel that mental health is not being treated appropriately, and that dangerous mental illnesses are going undetected and untreated. Therefore, the driving question in this resource is: How can we reduce the impact of mental health problems in America?

The authors of “Equality and Equity in Deliberation: Introduction to the Special Issue” state that inclusion is a foundation of deliberative democracy. But should programs focus on equity or equality in their process of dialogue and deliberation?

“Repairing the Breach: The Power of Dialogue to Heal Relationships and Communities” is a resource written by Robert R. Strains Jr. as a part of the Public Conversations Project. This project, now called Essential Partners, focuses on dialogue about difficult topics, such as gender, race, and sexuality. The resource was published in the Journal of Public Deliberation in 2014. The Journal of Public Deliberation collects research and projects with a focus on deliberative democracy.