VANCOUVER, Wash. -- High school and college students, and faculty are invited to participate in "Revitalizing Dialogue: Strategies for Engaging in a Polarized Society." The conference is sponsored by Washington State University Vancouver's Initiative for Public Deliberation. It will be held Feb. 26 -- 27 on the WSU Vancouver campus. Registration $25 and includes meals, parking and conference materials.

In these polarized times, schools and universities have the opportunity to become centers of healthy deliberation, where divisive issues are discussed and common ground is identified. This conference will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to become civility champions.

Over two days, participants will learn how to promote civility in their communities through civil dialogue around contentious issues. Martin Carcasson, founder and director of the Center for Public Deliberation at Colorado State University, will give plenary remarks. Learn and practice the skills required to become an IPD Civility Fellow including deliberative democracy, cultural competency, facilitation skills, how to guide conversations and ways to foster understanding.

Every participant will be trained to facilitate difficult conversations and will have the opportunity to practice those skills at a real community forum centered on the opioid epidemic.

Registration is open through Feb. 9 at both of the following links:

* bit.ly/IPDconference
* facebook.com/ipdwsu/

About the Initiative for Public Deliberation
The Initiative for Public Deliberation is a collaborative effort of WSU Vancouver and the Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service. It was established in spring 2015 "to strengthen democratic government by replacing rigid partisanship with listening and conversation." An impartial resource for the Southwest Washington community to assist in community problem-solving, IPD analyzes issues, designs public participation events, hosts forums that students facilitate, and prepares reports on key issues while working with a wide variety of institutions, including local and state government, school districts and community organizations.

About WSU Vancouver
WSU Vancouver is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave. in Vancouver, east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205, or via C-Tran bus service. Registered participants will receive an email with a parking permit valid in all Orange lots.

As one of six campuses of the Washington State University system, WSU Vancouver offers big-school resources in a small-school environment. The university provides affordable, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education to benefit the people and communities it serves. As the only four-year research university in Southwest Washington, WSU Vancouver helps drive economic growth through relationships with local businesses and industries, schools and nonprofit organizations.

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