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Difficult Dialogues logo--in dialogue people learn to use the energy of their differences to enhance their collective wisdom
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Co-sponsored by Higgins School of Humanities and IDCE (International Development, Community and Environment). Funded by a major grant from the Ford Foundation

Difficult Dialogues is about creating a culture of dialogue on campus in which the practice of dialogue is recognized, appreciated, and practiced both inside and outside the classroom. We hope to do this by: building skills of dialogue among a sizeable number of faculty, staff, and students; creating opportunities for the community to engage in dialogue around significant and controversial issues common to us all; and integrating dialogue into a number of academic courses across the curriculum, thus ensuring its continued practice.

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Discussion

N A T I O N A L
National Difficult Dialogues Initiative

 

 

why dialogue, why now?

 

 

 

Public Conversations Project

Sarah BuieSarah Buie named to board of Public Conversations Project

Sarah Buie, Director of the Difficult Dialogues initiative,
has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors at the
Public Conversations Project, a dialogue facilitation group based
in Watertown, MA. PCP has been an important consultant to
Clark's Difficult Dialogues initiative from its inception – leading
workshops on dialogue and pedagogy for faculty during an
intensive faculty development process, and as part of our 2006
launch event "Bridging the Abortion Divide: The Boston Story."

Sarah was invited to be part of the board, at a time when PCP looks to further develop
their work in the field of Higher Education:

"College and university communities face complex internal and external issues:
Addressing diversity. Campus politics. Religious tolerance. Competition for resources.
Activism around current affairs. The Public Conversations Project assists universities
and colleges to plan and convene successful dialogues for these types of high-stakes,
contentious issues. By teaching proven dialogue and communication skills,
PCP inspires and equips students (future leaders) to create collaborative environments
in their fields of work, their communities, and the world at large."

Clark's Difficult Dialogues program is highlighted
as part of PCP's efforts here

 

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Sarah Buie, Hannah Caruso, Abhishek RamanMeet the 2008/09 Difficult Dialogues Fellows

The Difficult Dialogues Fellows are an integral part of our project, working as teaching assistants to the Dialogue Seminar; developing public events related to our symposia; and researching the potentials for, and impacts of, dialogue throughout our community. As our project enters its third year, the Fellows play an important role in our continued efforts to encourage a culture of dialogue both on and off Clark's campus.
learn more

 

 

Difficult Dialogues Fall 2009 Courses

Can we learn to engage each other on issues on which we differ, and listen respectfully for what it is that we can learn – about the subject, about others and ourselves, about our common values? Can we learn to think critically and with discernment about contentious issues? Can we put aside our assumptions, and sit with the discomfort and creative potential of not-knowing?

In this sixth semester of DD courses, seventeen courses with an emphasis on dialogue will be offered. These courses will approach the process of dialogue in a variety of ways and across a number of disciplines, and will relate as is relevant to our dialogue symposium programming.

FALL'09 Courses

 

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Contact us

Sarah Buie

Director, Difficult Dialogues Project
Director, Higgins School of Humanities
Professor, V&PA
sbuie@clarku.edu

Jane Androski

Assistant Director, Difficult Dialogues
jandroski@clarku.edu