ADVANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS/UNDERSTANDING The Advancing Public Awareness/Understanding program represents the core of NAMI's work. This program is multi-faceted, with public outreach in the form of conferences/fora/meetings as its central goal. As a convening organization, NAMI’s strength is its ability to enrich the dialogue on North American issues by bringing together experts from around the region to discuss relevant topics. The region of North America has changed in that integration is no longer an idea, but a reality. The media reports about this every day. Colleges and universities have created entire curricula around North American studies. Federal policies are crafted specifically for North America. Government representatives, from Presidents to Ministers to working level bureaucrats, are meeting to discuss the continued integration. In response to this, NAMI promotes and organizes conferences, meetings, and workshops designed to promote discussion on relevant North American topics. NAMI brings together experts on critical issues to produce high quality educational material for public education and to stimulate informed debate, constructive decision making and sound policy formulation. The Institute, with assistance from partner organizations, seeks to identify those issues of the highest priority for resolution and involve those experts most qualified to render sound opinions and guidance. While NAMI remains a non-political organization, it advocates those positions and solutions that will contribute to the improved health of the North American community.