VANCOUVER, Wash. -- The Initiative for Public Deliberation at Washington State University Vancouver invites the public to participate in a discussion about the opioid crisis. Small group conversations about opioid abuse in Southwest Washington will take place March 20, 22 and 23.

The same conversation will be held at four locations:
* 6 -- 7:30 p.m. March 20, Evergreen High School, Vancouver
* 4 -- 5:30 p.m. March 22, Hegewald Center, Stevenson
* 6:30 -- 8 p.m. March 22, Washougal Library, Washougal
* 1 -- 2:30 and 6 -- 7:30 p.m. March 23, Cowlitz County Event Center, Longview

All forums are free and open to the public. Register by visiting the following link:
bit.ly/IPDforum

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. For more information about the IPD, visit admin.vancouver.wsu.edu/ipd, or email ipd@wsu.edu.

About WSU Vancouver
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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