Common Ground for Action online forums

CGA maps let you see where constituents have identified common ground across all three options.

CGA maps let you see where constituents have identified common ground across all three options.

 
 

What is Common Ground for Action?

A simple but sophisticated platform for deliberative forums online.

CGA allows small groups learn more about an issue, examine options for dealing with the issue, weigh tradeoffs, and find common ground, with beautiful visuals that let participants actually see their judgment evolve in real-time.

 

What do CGA forums offer legislators?

A visual, engaging way for constituents to have meaningful, productive online conversations about controversial issues, and to learn about their judgment.

Every elected official knows how difficult it is to reach a real cross-section of their constituents and have a productive, civil conversation about a controversial issue. CGA provides a structured way for constituents to have these conversations, to think more deeply about an issue and to better understand the judgment of others with different views. Post-forum analysis from a CGA forum also provides a legislator/staff a wealth of useful information about where there is common ground, as well as why constituents support or don’t support various policy options, in a way that is far different and deeper than what you get from polling or even focus groups.

How do CGA forums work?

CGA forums are 90-minute, facilitated, small-group deliberations.

In these small group deliberations, participants learn more about the issue, share why they care about it, then examine 3 different approaches to dealing with the issue, including the tradeoffs of each approach. At the end, participants reflect upon any authentic common ground they have identified, and see the difference their talking together has made. Click here to see a video of a forum.

 

Technical mumbo jumbo? None.

There is no software to download; CGA runs in any browser. CGA’s interface is designed to be intuitive enough to allow participants of all ages and levels of tech-savviness to be able to participate with ease.

 

How can I set one of these up? Get in touch.

IDEA handles all recruitment of participants, forum facilitation, and analysis— all you need to do is email us and we will be in touch about how we can collaborate with your office.