Tonya Gonzalez is the Director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium.
She leads the activities of the Consortium, including the work of the
Link to Government, Online Deliberative Democracy and Knowledge Building
task groups. The Consortium's first Director, Tonya has been instrumental
in developing and implementing the strategic plan of the Consortium
and obtaining funds to support activities since 2002. Since its creation,
the Consortium has convened international learning events, provided
grant funds to research teams to address critical issues facing the
deliberative democracy field, supported the publication of The Deliberative
Democracy Handbook and developed a partnership with LogoLink to increase
international learning opportunities. In 2004 the Consortium was recognized
by PACE as an example of a philanthropic investment that has successfully
advanced civic and community engagement.
Throughout Tonya's career she has worked with organizations that seek
to improve the condition of marginalized groups and that can serve
to reinvigorate democracy. She worked with the Open Society Institute-Baltimore
to create an urban debate league and helped develop the Community Fellows
project. She worked with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under
Law focusing on housing discrimination, environmental justice and community
development. Working for PBS she negotiated broadcast and other rights
for over 80 programs and continues to search for ways to use media
to increase awareness, foster dialogue. Tonya now serves on the Board
of Directors for the Alliance for Community Media.
She received her Bachelor of Arts & Behavioral Science from the
University of Maryland, University College and her law degree from
the University Of Maryland School Of Law in Baltimore, MD where she
graduated with honors and co-founded MARGINS: Maryland's Interdisciplinary
Publication on Race, Religion, Gender, and Class.