Doing Civic Engagement through a Wicked Problems Lens: The Case for Passionate Impartiality
Martín Carcasson
Center for Public Deliberation, Colorado State University
Abstract
Amid perhaps the most polarized time in our nation’s history, the quality of public discourse has also reached historic lows. Civic engagement practitioners must find ways to build capacity in our communities and campuses to change the dialogue, work against the overly adversarial climate, and support the kind of conversation democracy requires. Martin Carcasson made the case for taking a “wicked problems” perspective on tough issues to work toward improving the quality of public discourse and building the necessary civic skill sets and mindsets in our students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GIgFc0SKnk&feature=youtu.be
Author Biography
Martín Carcasson, Ph.D., is a professor in the Communication Studies department of Colorado State University, and the founder and director of the CSU Center for Public Deliberation (CPD). He also serves as a Senior Public Engagement Fellow with Public Agenda, a nationally recognized public engagement firm based in New York, works with Colorado State University Extension, serves on the faculty of the Kettering Foundation’s Centers for Public Life program, and is the incoming chair of the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation Board of Directors. His research focuses on deliberative engagement and collaborative problem-solving. He has received additional certification training by the National Issues Forum, the International Association of Public Participation, and the Institute for Participatory Management and Planning. The CPD serves as an impartial resource for the Northern Colorado community dedicated to enhancing local democracy through improved public communication, community problem solving, and collaborative decision-making. Dr. Carcasson trains students and community members to serve as impartial facilitators, who then work with local governments, school boards, and community organizations to analyze tough issues and then design, facilitate, and report on innovative public forums on those issues. His research has been published in Rhetoric & Public Affairs, the Journal of Public Deliberation, Higher Education Exchange, the International Journal of Conflict Resolution, New Directions in Higher Education, Public Sector Digest, Communication Theory, National Civic Review, Colorado Municipalities, Journal of Applied Communication Research, and the Quarterly Journal of Speech.
