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

  • November 13, 2024
    noon - 12:45 p.m., During this time, we all have a lot on our minds. Political division and misinformation sows seeds of distrust and impacts our relationships. How will you engage in public life in the coming months?  Join NH Listens for an online reflection and connection conversation on November 13, 4–5 p.m.. We'll pause, discuss what's on our minds, and share ideas for engaging a political mix in f a.m.ily, neighbors, work, and school.
  • November 13, 2024
    4 p.m. - 5 p.m., As a community of care during this time, we may be sitting with joy, uncertainty, change, and perhaps some hope. We know that time together in the community, having conversations, reflecting together is important. This hour-long conversation will be focused on talking and reflecting on how we can stay in the community across divides and through good conflict.Taking this pause post-election can help us stay in the community and grapple with what's ahead. 
  • November 20, 2024
    noon - 2:30 p.m.,  NH Listens' online Advanced Facilitator Training focuses on those difficult moments when people are in dialogue across significant differences. Many people are often trained to remain "neutral" when serving as facilitators for public engagement and community dialogues. However, that doesn't mean facilitators should remain passive in the face of misunderstandings and harmful dyn a.m.ics. We focus on self-reflection, centering equity, and building confidence to address issu...
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