New Hampshire Listens

New Hampshire Listens
collage of three photos with people holding signs saying Talk, Listen and Engage

 

Are you a bridge builder? Changemaker? Connector? So are we. Let us know how we can partner with you to deepen authentic engagement in your public serving work.

New Hampshire Listens is a community engagement initiative of the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. In the same way that we need the physical infrastructure of roads and bridges, we need infrastructure in our communities to support and sustain democracy. Our team believes that change comes from all directions, and it happens through many different means of engagement in our communities. 

We have worked with people in New Hampshire communities for over a decade to strengthen local, regional, and state efforts to improve public life. We are built on earlier work by cofounders Bruce Mallory and Michele Holt-Shannon, including community-based dialogue and engagement in Portsmouth leading to the creation of Portsmouth Listens in 1999. Since 2010, we worked at the local and state levels to support respectful conversations about complex issues affecting New Hampshire residents’ everyday lives. Our work supports community-led action and change. We are a long-term anchor partner with Everyday Democracy.

We design thoughtful gatherings, meetings, and coalitions with state and local partners to achieve authentic engagement and more equitable decision-making.

  • colorful wheel cogs showing icons of house, heart, people, pie chart, magnifying glass, and word bubble

    Discover the Local Civic Health Guide

    The Carsey School designed this guide to building community and bridging divides to help people at the local level collect data to better understand what factors bring people together or push them apart. 

  • gold sustainability award overlaying cover of 2020 new hampshire civic health index report

    2020 New Hampshire Civic Health Index Receives Gold Sustainability Award

    The 2020 New Hampshire Civic Health Index was the recipient of a gold award at the UNH Sustainability Awards held May 7, 2021. Read more about this achievement.

Upcoming Events

  • February 5, 2025
    noon - 12:45 p.m.,  Join NH Listens for a 45-minute informative and interactive session aimed at sharing bite-sized tips and resources from our toolbox for community engagement and facilitation. You don't have to do this work alone! When possible, call upon your co-facilitators to help each other host the dialogue or community event. Effective co-facilitation involves strong communication, planning, and nimbleness. This training on effective co-facilitation will share skills and tips for...
  • February 12, 2025
    noon - 2:30 p.m.,  NH Listens' online Basic Facilitator Training provides an overall glimpse into facilitating public engagement. It is an introductory training for tips and practices on key facilitator concepts for facilitating online and in person, including drawing people in, managing productive conversations, and strengthening your skills as a facilitator.We welcome everyone no matter how little or how much you know about facilitation. We love it when there is a mix because it always...
View All NH Listens Events

NH Listens News

A photo of a MCAC member working on a project

Granite State News Collaborative: Manchester group takes village approach to community engagement

Granite State News Collaborative: Manchester group takes village approach to community engagement

Michele Holt-Shannon

Article
A library display with the words "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" showing a cityscape

NH Public Radio: N.H. librarians learn how to lead community conversations that go beyond the book

NH Public Radio: N.H. librarians learn how to lead community conversations that go beyond the book

Michele Holt-Shannon, NH Listens

Article
Upcoming Events: NH Listens Announces New Dates for Local Lunch Box Series

Upcoming Events: NH Listens Announces New Dates for Local Lunch Box Series

Upcoming Events: NH Listens Announces New Dates for Local Lunch Box Series

Starting March 2, Monthly Online Educational Series Offers Training & Resources for Facilitation and Community Engagement

Article