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Encouraging Dialogue at Clark

Dialogue calls on us to listen, to ask real questions, and to respect the basis of another's views – so we can communicate genuinely across our differences. In the Fall of 2006 Clark launched Difficult Dialogues, a program aimed at creating a climate for dialogue on campus. In late October and early November, we held two weeks of launch events, which introduced our community to the practice of dialogue. This past spring we entered our 2007 symposium year, in which we began to use the practices and tools of dialogue to address four central topics – The State of Our Democracy, Race and Ethnicity, Religion and Tolerance, and Power. All members of the community are invited to join the activities of the Difficult Dialogues program, and to use this site as a resource for learning.

Why dialogue?

What allows for separation and silence among us, especially about our deepest concerns? Denial, fear, numbness, apathy—all play a part. Our collective rhetoric is polarized. Our pace of life is daunting. We find too often that we fail to listen, to ourselves or to each other.

In some ways we are farther than ever from dialogue about our shared needs and communication across our differences. Yet these very pressures give us cause to be highly motivated—attuned more than ever to the importance of dialogue.

The practice of dialogue is ancient, and its tenets simple: understand and be discerning about power; know when dialogue is and isn't appropriate; create a space of trust; and shed presumptions. Dialogue calls on us to listen and be listened to with respect, to allow uncertainty, and perhaps to hear something new. In dialogue we ask real questions, respect the basis of another's view, think together, are silent, and listen together for what is not yet apparent.

The practice of democracy depends on dialogue, and communities of research and learning require its enlivening process. So does all creative activity, whether done alone or collectively. All real innovation depends on listening—to what is called for, and for inspiration. With an urgent need for dialogue and its practices across the country, we are working to establish a culture of dialogue on the Clark campus.

 WHAT IS DIALOGUE?   

Encouraging dialogue at Clark

This fall Clark launches a program aimed at creating a culture of dialogue on campus. Based on our proposal to the Ford Foundation in their national Difficult Dialogues initiative, we are one of 27 institutions selected by Ford from 675 applicants to receive funding for our project.

In the fall of 2006, a group of 20 faculty will participate in a full semester of faculty development in the skills of dialogue, led by outstanding practitioners in the field (see faculty development page). These faculty will share their dialogue skills with the community through their teaching, in their administrative roles, and in their work with colleagues. An additional 30 faculty and staff will participate in a one-day workshop in September to build their awareness of dialogue and fundamental skills for it; other workshops for interested faculty and staff will be scheduled.

In late October and early November, two weeks of launch events will initiate the Difficult Dialogues yearlong program focused on connecting through dialogue. During the Day of Listening, the entire campus community will have the opportunity to learn skills of respectful listening, hearing and being heard, in small informal workshops held all over campus. A workshop on the Way of Council will launch our series on cultures of dialogue. A keynote talk by Diana Chapman Walsh, President of Wellesley College, will help us set our sights for the year ahead. A public forum among the Boston leaders on both sides of the abortion issue will allow us to experience with them the powerful space of dialogue. Professor Les Blatt will launch a faculty discussion series with an exploration of physicist David Bohm's work on dialogue. A Difficult Dialogues film and discussion series will begin, and the DD arts series will commence with a large improvisational drumming circle.

During the entire calendar year 2007, a series of four Difficult Dialogues symposia will bring help us explore the process of working with difficult concerns through the skills of dialogue. Each semester, two different symposia will feature a public forum and speakers on specific issues and points of view—the topics will be announced soon. An exhibition, arts events, a film series and workshops highlighting a variety of culture of dialogueswill also be featured during the year.

Twelve Difficult Dialogues courses will run concurrent with the Spring 2007 symposia, drawing from its content, and focusing on developing and deepening skills of dialogue in the classroom. There will be additional courses offered in the Fall of 2007.

All members of the community are welcome and invited to join the activities of the Difficult Dialogues program. Please return to this site often for the calendar of events and updates on our plans.

Resources

The Difficult Dialogues Initiative
Nationwide, there are 43 colleges and universities involved in the Difficult Dialogues program.

National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation
NCDD's mission is to bring together and support people, organizations, and resources in ways that expand the power of discussion to benefit society. We believe that elevating the quality of thinking and communication in organizations and among citizens is key to solving humanity's most pressing problems.

The Dialogue Process  

The Ashland Institute
The Ashland Institute teaches the personal and collective capabilities needed to fulfill the promise of collaboration and creative community. Their offerings focus on skilled Dialogue and individual anchoring in Essential Self—both necessary to thrive in the intensities of our time.

Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society is a non-profit organization which works to integrate contemplative awareness and contemporary life, to help create a more just, compassionate, and reflective society.

The Co-Intelligence Institute
This ability to wisely organize our lives together—all of us being wiser together than any of us could be alone—we call co-intelligence. This site includes hundreds of articles and references describing proven methods, innovative models, practical visions and the theoretical frameworks that weave them all together. It has rightly been called a treasure-trove. Welcome to its resources.

Dialogos
Dialogos is a world leader and pioneer in the theory and practice of dialogue, organizational learning and collective leadership.

Public Conversations Project
The Public Conversations Project (PCP) helps people with fundamental disagreements over divisive issues develop the mutual understanding and trust essential for strong communities and positive action.

The World Cafe
This website contains a wealth of information and resources you can use to host your own World Café dialogues. We hope you'll be moved to engage in “conversations that matter” with your family and friends, as well as within your organizations and communities

Wosk Centre for Dialogue
The Wosk Centre is an intellectual home and an advocate for dialogue. At the Centre practitioners, researchers and students of dialogue probe the nature of dialogue—that process of interaction whereby open-minded discussion leads to mutual understanding and positive action—and they nurture it in practice.

consultant to Clark University 's Difficult Dialogues program

Dialogue and Democracy  

Animating Democracy
Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts Institute for Community Development and the Arts, fosters arts and cultural activity that encourages and enhances civic engagement and dialogue.

BeyondPartisan.org
Beyond Partisan believes that responsible government rests on reasoned debate. It is born of the sentiment that the push of two parties separates us as individuals and weakens our common political conversation. However, accessible and balanced debate provides America with the opportunity and strength to rise above that which divides her.

By the People
By the People provides many opportunities for local public television stations, community organizations and community colleges to creatively engage the public in meaningful and informed dialogue about the pressing issues of the day.

City-Wide Dialogue
Dozens of local organizations and hundreds of volunteers and residents are collaborating in a proactive program of candid, respectful, multi-session neighborhood-based dialogues leading to increased understanding and new trust and relationships. Over 600 people have already participated in dialogues all over Boston !

Democracy Campaign
To engage large numbers of Americans in the process of authentic, healthy dialogue across differences.

Democratic Dialogue Network
Observing the dynamism inherent to human processes, we contribute to the discovering and strengthening of communication and interchange spaces that allow energies, wills and knowledge to flow in order to foster a joint building of a peaceful coexistence.

Let's Talk America
Let's Talk America is a nationwide movement that will bring Americans from all points on the political spectrum together in cafes, bookstores, churches and living rooms for lively, open-hearted dialogue to consider questions essential to the future of our democracy.

The World Cafe
This website contains a wealth of information and resources you can use to host your own World Café dialogues. We hope you'll be moved to engage in “conversations that matter” with your family and friends, as well as within your organizations and communities.

Dialogue and Pedagogy

Diversity Web
The most comprehensive compendium of campus practices and resources about diversity in higher education that you can find anywhere. This site is designed to serve campus practitioners seeking to place diversity at the center of the academy's educational and societal mission.

Dialogue in the Arts

Animating Democracy
Animating Democracy, a program of Americans for the Arts Institute for Community Development and the Arts, fosters arts and cultural activity that encourages and enhances civic engagement and dialogue.

Dialogue and Culture

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