This content was published: July 10, 1998. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC and OSU Team Up for Public Policy Institute at Reed College
Photos and story by Mark Evertz
PORTLAND – Portland Community College and Oregon State University are co-sponsoring the 4th Annual Pacific Northwest Public Policy Institute on Thursday, July 16 through Saturday, July 18 at Reed College. This year, partial scholarships have been obtained to help cover the cost for eligible registrants.
The purpose of the institute is to train individuals to be moderators of forums designed to engage citizens in deliberating issues of importance to them and their communities. This nationally recognized institute is based on a model called the National Issues Forum developed by the non-profit research organization, the Kettering Foundation.
Those encouraged to attend are public officials who want to promote meaningful dialogue between citizens and government, community leaders facing conflict on local issues, and any other members of a community in search of an alternative to adversarial debate.
"This is an opportunity to take an active role in finding cooperative solutions to the problems we all face," said Neal Naigus, Pacific Northwest Public Policy Institute Director. "This institute teaches people to learn decorum and decency during the discussion of hot-button issues. The more we have of that, the better."
The topic for the weekend-long event is "The Deliberative Process: Finding Common Ground for Action." It runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 16 and 17, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 18. Reed College is located at 2303 S.E. Woodstock Boulevard.
Registration for the institute activities costs $225, which includes all instructional materials, lunches and dinners on Thursday and Friday, and lunch on Saturday. Housing is also available for a fee.
If you are interested, please call Neal Naigus at 977-4122.