Dialogue@TUprovides opportunities for the entire campus to learn the theory and practice of dialogue
as a useful skill in navigating frank discussions about our identities and social
justice. Formerly known as the Intergroup Dialogue (IGD) Program,Dialogue@TUcontinues to embed a dialogue component in select courses while also expanding the
reach of dialogue training to all staff, faculty and, more recently,undergraduateand graduate student leaders.
"Stand up if the statement applies to you..." IGD Facilitators use icebreakers for
the students to get to know each other throughout the 8 weeks.Students brainstormed hashtags they could use to share their social action message.
#Dialogue #ListentoLean #IamLoveClosing out the dialogue with daily check-in is very important for the group to maintian
good communication.
Dialogue Defined
Dialogue@TU views dialogue as both a perspective and a skill. Dialogue as a perspective prioritizes our increasingly diverse campus to find more opportunities to learn more
about each other, our identities, our experiences, and our views. Dialogue as a skill focuses on practicing deep listening, suspension of judgement, and navigating challenging
moments by turning to curiosity and open questions.
Dialogue can be a useful tool in any interaction.
Sustained dialogue refers to the same community or groupwith a shared commitment to examine their relationships, conflict and change by coming together on a recurring basis to practice dialogue skills as a means for reaching deeper levels of understanding and strengthening relationships
and the collective capacity to navigate conflict.
Intergroup dialogue (IGD) is a specific type of sustained dialogue in that brings together individuals from two or more social identity groups with a history
of tension or conflict (e.g., People of Color and White people; LGBT people and heterosexual
people; Christians, religious minorities, and secular individuals; women and men).
The goals of IGD include: (1) creating sustained, face-to-face communication across
groups; (2) raising social consciousness (e.g., about social inequalities, one’s role
in perpetuating these inequalities, and the personal impacts of these inequalities
on oneself and others); and (3) building bridges across group differences and a commitment
to work toward social justice together.
Dialogue
Dialogue can be a component embedded into an academic course, a component to a department, team, committee, or other organization’s regular meeting structure, as well as tool for standalone meetings, discussions, forums, or other
interactions.
In response to recent campus and national events, Dialogue@TU is collaborating with the Office of Inclusion & Institutional Equity on a variety
of anti-racist education and training events.
Watch this video to see how Dialogue@TU makes a difference in our TU community.
How is Dialogue@TU Different Than Other Diversity Programs?
Dialogue@TU represents a sustained conversation over a period of several weeks to
have individuals more deeply and consistently engage with a topic that typically creates
tension and conflict. Students meet in small groups for a period of 8 weeks to discuss
one social issue (e.g., racism). The dialogue is facilitated by two individuals trained
in Dialogue@TU. The students and facilitators must equally represent the different
identities associated with the dialogue topic (e.g., People of Color, White people).
This model has been shown to increase individuals’ empathic understanding of different
perspectives, as well as to raise self-awareness and cultural competence.
Dialogue@TU has been embedded in courses since Fall 2016. Some of these courses include:
PSYC 470: Multicultural Psychology, EDUC 203: Teaching and Learning in a Diverse Society, TSEM: Diversity Dialogue for Social Justice, TSEM: Religion, Race, and Gender. Are you interested in having dialogue as part of your course? Contact us dialogue AT_TOWSON
“It challenges you to think outside the box and explore your own beliefs and personal
attitudes.”
allie shuck '17
Dialogue@TU Training
The 3-part Dialogue@TU Training Series covers both the theory and skills of dialogue,
along with opportunities to practice skills in live dialogues (Levels 1 and 2), as
well the opportunity to be certified as a dialogue facilitator (Level 3).
Dialogue@TU Certification Training
Please register if you were trained prior to January 2019. Also, please share with
others who may be interested in becoming a certified Dialogue@TU facilitator.
Level 1: TU Dialogue Theory Training - [Virtual] - Zoom Link will be sent after Registration
This training will cover the goals of Dialogue, the most recent Dialogue research
including the process and benefits, the nuances of dialogue, discussion, debate, and
diatribe, as well as intensive training connected to the co-facilitation process. In order to accommodate pre-work, registration will close on Wednesday July 13, 2022.
This session will be capped at 60.
Level 2: TU Dialogue Participation and Overview of Facilitation - [Virtual] - Zoom Link will be sent after Registration
This half-day training will provide Level 1-trained staff and faculty with the practice
settings to both facilitate and observe dialogues on difficult topics. This will also
be an opportunity to learn more about the in-course, sustained Dialogue model, as
well as out of class facilitations. Level 1 Training (or comparable experience) is
a prerequisite for Level 2 Training. This session will be capped at 60.
Level 3: TU Dialogue Observation & Certification -
[Virtual] - Zoom Link will be sent after Registration
This half-day training will provide Level 1 and 2-trained staff and faculty with additional
practice in a group setting leading to certification. Specific feedback will be provided
concerning advanced facilitator skills.
•Previously trained Dialogue facilitators (whether at TU or elsewhere with a comparable
program) are also welcome to register for this level as a refresher course.
•Level 1 and Level 2 Training (or comparable experience) is a prerequisite for Level
3 Training.