Last winter and spring, the Citizen Voices program drew nearly 500 citizens of the region into lively dialogue about the mayoral election.

In forums held all over the city, the citizens named five city issues - education, safety, neighborhoods, jobs and government reform - as the most vital. They helped craft detailed frameworks for understanding the choices that politicians - and the community - face in dealing with them. They drafted questions that the five Democratic primary hopefuls answered at a debate on WPVI-TV (Channel 6) in May, on the Commentary Page of The Inquirer, and in the Editorial Board's endorsement interviews.

As important, the citizens sampled and became good at the form of respectful, solution-oriented political talk known as deliberation.

What the heck, let's do it again.

If you are eligible to vote in the Nov. 2 election, you are invited to take part in the fall menu of Citizen Voices events, which will extend past the mayoral vote. (Folks who've already taken part need not register again. You're on the list.)

The cosponsors of Citizen Voices are The Inquirer and the Philadelphia Compact, a nonprofit set up by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania to promote a fair and issue-oriented mayoral campaign.

If I sign up, what am I in for?

A chance to talk with fellow citizens about the future of your city in a format designed to avoid partisan posturing and name-calling. Deliberation aims to be more about listening than orating, more about seeking solutions than sharpening divisions. To be candid, a few people who tried the Citizen Voices approach didn't like it. They found it too structured, too focused on talk before action. But based on the evaluation forms we've received, a large majority of participants found Citizen Voices a safe and invigorating place to talk and learn.

All very lofty, but be specific.

OK, here's the basic calendar. On Sept. 9 at The Inquirer, 400 N. Broad St., the dialogue on a sixth vital issue - race and diversity - that the Citizen Voices began in July will resume. You can take part in that 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. forum without having attended the first one. Just let us know soon.

On Sept. 25, the Philadephia Compact will hold a Spotlight on Education forum, with experts on the Philadelphia schools speaking and answering questions. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Annenberg School for Communication.

On Oct. 2, the Fall Issues Convention will be held on the Penn campus. Citizens will deliberate on the six issues and draft questions for candidates the mayoral candidates, Sam Katz and John Street, who have been invited to appear.

On Oct. 17, the Citizen Voices will be the questioners at a live Channel 6 mayoral debate, cosponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters.

In mid-October, a Spotlight on Government Reform will be held at The Inquirer.

After the election, the Citizen Voices will begin work on the culminating document of the project - a Citizens Agenda for Philadelphia to be presented to the new mayor and City Council next year.

Hmmm, I'm no expert and it sounds kind of confusing to jump into ...

You're an expert on your own life, your values, what it's like to live, work and play in this town. That's all it takes. All events are designed to be worthwhile for the first-timer as well as the veteran.

Who shows up for these things?

The Inquirer and Penn have worked hard to make the group representative of the real Philadelphia. It is a perfect snapshot? No. But it includes people from all city neighborhoods, all races and walks of life. Despite efforts at outreach, Latinos and Asian Americans remain underrepresented. If you belong to either of those groups, please consider this a particular invitation.

I live in the 'burbs. I pay the darn wage tax. Am I shut out? No. We value your voice, too.

OK, enough. How do I sign up?

Easy. Fill out the coupon on this page; mail, fax or e-mail it in. If you have any questions, please call me at 215-854-5943 or e-mail

And be sure to check the wealth of material on the project Web site,