Christy Clemens, Executive Director of Dialogue Initiatives at Dartmouth, and Dr. Elizabeth Smith, Professor and Dean of Arts and Sciences, delve into the Dartmouth Dialogue Project. They discuss how this initiative emerged from communication challenges and fosters empathy through active listening. The duo emphasizes creating 'brave spaces' for authentic dialogue, the necessity of teaching dialogue skills, and the importance of ongoing practice. They also touch on collaborative projects aimed at equipping students to navigate differing perspectives in today’s complex world.
The Dartmouth Dialogue Project emerged to address communication failures in academic settings by fostering essential dialogue skills across diverse disciplines.
The initiative's focus on constructing 'brave spaces' promotes authentic engagement and vulnerability, essential for respectful and meaningful discussions among participants.
Deep dives
Intersecting Divisions and the Dialogue Project
The Dialogue Project at Dartmouth encompasses the four key divisions of the institution: science, arts and humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs. The project emerged from a recognized breakdown in dialogue within academic settings, as faculty struggled to engage students in discussions on complex topics, which often extended beyond the classroom. A notable example is the communication failures observed during faculty meetings and conflicts amongst students, which highlighted the urgent need for dialogue skills in the liberal arts context. By fostering dialogue skills, the project aims to bridge gaps between varied disciplines and address broader societal issues requiring academic intervention.
Brave Spaces and Skill Development
The concept of brave spaces plays a vital role in facilitating meaningful dialogues and is essential to the Dialogue Project's mission. Instead of merely providing a safe environment, brave spaces encourage participants to engage authentically, challenge each other respectfully, and embrace vulnerability. Key components such as active listening, motivational interviewing, and empathy-building are acknowledged as crucial skills that have diminished over time. By focusing on skill development, the Dialogue Project intends to transform dialogue practices across the institutional culture and improve student interactions.
Programming Initiatives and Community Engagement
The Dialogue Project is structured around four pillars: guest speakers, a special topics series, workshops, and partnerships with organizations like StoryCorps. Events such as the Middle East dialogues exemplify collaborative efforts to provide multiple perspectives on sensitive subjects, highlighting the importance of diverse voices in discussions. Additionally, the partnership with One Small Step enables participants to share differing viewpoints in a structured setting, reinforcing the idea that common ground can be discovered even amidst diverse beliefs. The initiative emphasizes community involvement and aims to integrate dialogue into everyday campus life, allowing it to flourish naturally.
Lessons and Future Directions
One of the primary lessons learned early on is the significance of collaboration and the necessity of integrating dialogue into the institutional framework rather than as an add-on effort. The involvement of student voices is also crucial to ensure that initiatives resonate with the broader community and do not seem like administrative top-down practices. As the project searches for ways to evaluate success, there's an emphasis on observing changes in student behavior and engagement rather than simply measuring participation in workshops. Overall, this dialogue initiative represents an ongoing journey toward fostering a culture of engagement and understanding within the institution.
The skills to engage and bridge differences are needed in higher education and our world today. Kristi Clemens and Dr. Elizabeth Smith share about how the Dartmouth Dialogue Project emerged, how it is structured, and what they have learned through the process thus far. They discuss the key elements of relationship building and empathy, viewing dialogue as a practice, and yearning for and obstacles to dialogue.
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