Patrick approaches civic life through deliberation — the belief that structured, good-faith dialogue across difference produces better decisions and stronger communities.

Center for Public Deliberation, CSU

Senior Associate · Aug 2023–Jan 2026

Facilitated over 30 small and large public deliberations on complex local issues, applying conflict management, collaborative problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement. Delivered a public talk on Tools for Having Challenging Conversations at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Featured in CSU’s film Democracy Project. Conducted and published qualitative data analysis for the 2024 Community Housing Summit, prepared for the City of Fort Collins.

CSU Political Review

Co-Founder & Co-President · Aug 2024–Jan 2026

Built a cross-partisan student publication and programming series at Colorado State University, using gamification and structured dialogue to bridge political divides. Events included the UnFuck America’s debate, a Free Speech Policy Forum with the Center for Public Deliberation, candidate panels, and Seats at the Table — a deliberative roundtable bridging students with ASCSU candidates.

The Rural Action Project, CSU

Research Assistant · May–Oct 2024

Interviewed rural Latino residents in Morgan County, Colorado to evaluate community values, needs, and institutional capacities. Conducted qualitative analysis on nine community project proposals across greater Colorado funded by $5,000 mini-grants.

Pragmatic Conservatism in Blue America — Civic Canopy Summit 2026

Co-facilitator · May 2026 · UCCS

Patrick and Shirley Peel co-facilitated a play station session at the Civic Canopy Summit at UCCS, themed Reviving Democracy, Reclaiming Civics.

The session was built around a simple but pointed observation: cities across the country are shifting left — not because conservative values are unwelcome, but because conservatives often don’t show up, don’t relate to newcomers, and don’t do the hard work of building understanding across difference. Colorado Springs sits at that crossroads. So does Fort Collins. So does most of America’s suburban sprawl.

Shirley modeled what it looks like to do it differently — sitting in rooms where she was outnumbered, talking about fiscal responsibility, safe streets, and collaborative engagement, and winning voters from all walks of life by leading with listening.

The session used a value card activity drawn from Shirley’s mayoral platform — ten priorities including fiscal responsibility, housing attainability, government transparency, and community safety — asking participants to rank what resonated, compare with their neighbors, and ask whether these values are really as partisan as they seem. The goal wasn’t persuasion. It was genuine curiosity.