January 7, 2026

A New Year, A New Conversation

The turn of the calendar often brings bold resolutions and ambitious plans.

Welcome to Democracy Runs on Dialogue™


In local leadership, experience teaches a quieter truth. Progress rarely begins with answers. It begins with better questions, asked together. That belief sits at the heart of Democracy Runs on Dialogue™, my new Substack created to explore the human work of leading and governing together.


This space is an outlet for exploring the questions, tensions, and patterns that surface in real-world leadership and governance. Some posts will unpack practices and frameworks drawn from facilitation and strategic planning. Others will linger with a question, a moment of uncertainty, or a point of friction that feels worth sitting with a little longer.

This isn’t a series to keep up with. It’s a conversation to return to.


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The What and the How

The What and the How

By Matt Lehrman • February 19, 2026
The internal dialogue that builds partnership, accountability, and Strategic Confidence
Kristen Miles is Director of Board Development at the Oregon School Boards Association

Why Shared Purpose Matters More Than Agreement

By Matt Lehrman • February 16, 2026
Most governing bodies don’t falter because leaders don’t care. They falter when disagreement becomes personal, meetings lose focus, and the work slowly drifts away from its purpose. Over time, that erosion affects not just relationships around the table, but the outcomes communities depend on.
Neil Thanedar, Executive Director, Michigan Campaign Finance Network

Positive Politics Is Not Naive. It’s Constructive.

By Matt Lehrman • February 10, 2026
Politics is often described as broken. Too influenced by money. Too opaque. Too hard to trust. This week’s Community Catalysts episode, Positive Politics, offers a different and genuinely encouraging frame.
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