The Common Ground Project Programs
Skills for Navigating Public Discourse
The Common Ground Project offers educational programs that strengthen public discourse literacy, critical thinking, and civic communication among young people.
Our programs are:
- non-partisan and skills-based
- grounded in real public debates
- designed for schools, universities, and civic institutions
We currently offer three complementary formats: Workshops, Civic Forums, and Educational Resources.
Workshops
Focused learning for discourse literacy
Short, interactive educational sessions designed to help students understand how public narratives work and how to engage responsibly in public conversation.
Best for: Schools, universities, youth programs, pilot initiatives
Participants learn to:
- analyze media framing and narratives
- recognize bias, persuasion, and misinformation
- communicate disagreement clearly and ethically
Workshops can be delivered as single sessions or multi-part programs and adapted to institutional needs.
Civic Forums
Moderated dialogue around real public issues
Civic Forums are structured discussion spaces focused on understanding, listening, and perspective-taking — not debate performance.
Best for:
Universities, civic institutions, community partners
What makes them different:
- trained moderation
- clear discussion frameworks
- emphasis on understanding over persuasion
Forums address current public issues relevant to participants and institutional context.
Educational Resources
Tools for independent and institutional use
Our Educational Resource Library provides curated materials supporting public discourse education, media literacy, and civic communication.
Includes:
- discussion guides
- analytical frameworks
- case studies based on real discourse events
Resources are designed for classroom use, workshops, and independent learning.
Working With Us
We collaborate with educational institutions, civic organizations, foundations, and mentors who share an interest in strengthening democratic culture and public discourse.
Programs can be:
- hosted
- co-designed
- supported through partnership or sponsorship