What IF?

Welcome to the Interactivity Foundation Community!

Jul 03, 2024

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce the launch of the Interactivity Foundation's weekly newsletter! In this newsletter, you can expect to find resources that can be used in your community, classroom, or workplace. We will share inspiring stories from our partners around the country who are advancing collaborative intelligence, building civic infrastructure, and nurturing social connection through sustained dialogue. You will learn about upcoming opportunities to join our community of practice, register for workshops, or participate in discussion events. Our goal is to encourage you, support you, and partner with you so we can, together, strengthen democracy through discussion.

Focusing on What IF…

This year we are focusing on the possibilities—and working towards making them a reality. We often abbreviate our name as “IF,” as in “What if?” to remind ourselves to look forward with hope and optimism, to be creative enough to imagine a brighter future, and to create pathways to achieve a new and better way of collaborating, engaging in meaningful civil conversations in homes, communities, classrooms, and workspaces.

What if…we could have meaningful conversations about the state of our society and tackle complex issues together?
What if…we could nurture social trust and connection through sustained discussions?
What if…all people had the opportunity to develop collaborative discussion skills and mindsets?
What if…we embraced divergent thinking as a public good?

As we celebrate Independence Day, we are filled with a love for our country and for our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends, who have diverse perspectives and unique experiences. We believe everyone deserves opportunities to think about the challenges facing our communities and to learn how to work together to address them.

We believe our fellow citizens have the capacity to engage in meaningful civil conversations, and we know our democracy hinges on the ability not just to shout passionate opinions but to have productive dialogue—respectful exchanges that explore different viewpoints and work toward solutions.

At IF, we work to strengthen our democracy by using small-group discussions to explore diverse perspectives and generate an expanding set of divergent possibilities.

As we cultivate this community here on Substack, we invite you to join us. Our work and the possibilities are within reach with active public leadership and willing participation by people like you.

So, don’t just read this newsletter. Engage with us. Hit reply, and share your hopes and ideas. Share the issues that mean the most to you and impact your community. Sign-up for one of our Upcoming Events! Celebrate your wins with us, and lean on this community as you work through challenges. Help us build this community together. We are counting on you.

Keep the Faith,

Shannon W. Hartman & the Interactivity Foundation Team