Exploring New Hampshire's Civic Health and Policymaking in a Time of Polarization
As a new year begins, New Hampshire residents are thinking about how to engage more deeply in their communities, from serving on local boards to getting involved in community projects. Our panel of community leaders explored the state’s civic health and discussed what today’s political landscape means for constructive community engagement and problem-solving in New Hampshire. This session offered a timely, big-picture look at whether New Hampshire’s tradition of pragmatic policymaking is holding up amid national polarization.
Watch the Video
About the Speakers
Anna Brown is one of New Hampshire’s foremost experts on state government and policy. After completing her master’s degree in justice studies, she began her career with Citizens Count, a nonprofit dedicated to providing unbiased information about New Hampshire democracy – including the roughly 2,000 bills and 1,000 candidates that move through the state every two years. She is a board member of NH Civics, an advisory board member for NH Together, a member of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits Policy Committee, and serves as a go-to policy expert for NHPR, NH PBS, and other media outlets. In 2024, she joined the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law as Director of the Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership, and Public Service.
Steve Brown is an educator, facilitator, and futurist who helps organizations and communities navigate the turbulence of a rapidly changing world. With NH Together and its partners, he is developing deliberative processes intended to help New Hampshire residents solve problems across political and social differences. This work aims to create new opportunities for everyday people to rebuild connection and have more voice and influence in their communities.
Michele Holt-Shannon is the director and co-founder of New Hampshire Listens at the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy. For over 30 years, her work on and off campus has focused on community problem-solving, increasing engagement in the decisions that impact people’s lives, and bringing skills and support for navigating conflict and controversy. Michele is known for her skill in facilitating groups, coalitions, and learning exchanges. She is the lead designer and facilitator of a program in New Hampshire that has had over 450 participants in 20+ cohorts sponsored by the Endowment for Health. She works to bring people together across perspectives and backgrounds to solve problems and create equitable solutions for their communities.
