Community Forums

CAD offers facilitated community forums to foster community discussion and to allow controversial issues to be addressed openly and productively. This allows a safe and productive means for discussing contentious issues which, when not addressed, can disrupt and polarize a community. For example, following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, incidents of backlash and discrimination began to occur within Corvallis. In response, on September 19th, 2001, CAD held a community forum at the Corvallis Library. Approximately 65 community members participated in a facilitated discussion about what we could do as a community in response to the events and how to address concerns regarding potential acts of retaliation against Middle Eastern and Muslim community members. On September 12, 2002, approximately one year later, CAD held another Community Forum which was part of a community-wide commemoration of Sept. 11th. The forum was titled "Peace, Justice, Compassion, and Community Reflection" and was produced in collaboration with the Foundation for Global Community. At the forum, community members reflected on the impact of Sept. 11th on their lives and on the community, country, and world.