Workshop: How do we talk across differences?

This in-person, half-day workshop, hosted by the Constructive Dialogue Institute, in collaboration with the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, Humanities Lab and the Cultivating Civic Virtues through Action initiative, provides participants with the foundational skills and mindsets of constructive dialogue.  Participants will:

• learn out-of-the-box strategies to proactively foster connection and trust among fellow students
• techniques to support peers as they engage across differences
• specific tactics to effectively navigate conflict or tension

This workshop is highly interactive and experiential. Spaces are very limited, and participants must RSVP by March 12. Both undergraduates and graduate students are welcome to attend.

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. — Check-in. Coffee and snacks are provided.
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. — Morning session
12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Lunch (provided)
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Afternoon session

• Build your facilitator toolkit – You’ll shift from being just a participant in conversations to someone who can guide them.
• Create campus spaces where dialogue thrives – You’ll learn how to set group intentions, invite everyone’s voice, keep discussions intentional and structure dialogue so it doesn’t spiral off track. These moves help you create spaces on campus where mutual respect and genuine curiosity are the norm.
• Respond to conflict with confidence – When things get tense, controversial or awkward, you’ll be ready. Through practice and scenarios, you’ll try out strategies like asking open-ended questions, listening for values, redirecting with structure and using the BIN framework to move a stuck conversation forward.