CIVIC DIALOGUES

The Student Civic Engagement Campaign, a project of Campus Compact, is currently promoting dialogues on college and university campuses across the country. A dialogue differs from a debate in that it asks that all participants put their own “conclusions” on hold and regard other participants as colleagues in search for common ground. A facilitator or facilitators are charged with the task of keeping the discussion moving forward on the selected topic or issue that is at the center of the conversation.

The purposes of all dialogues are:

• To bring together people from diverse backgrounds and experience,
• To open avenues for discussion, learning and cooperation,
• To promote understanding of different points of view,
• To identify information or issues
• To offer opportunities for people to become part of an interactive network of active and concerned citizens,
• To explore, discuss and carry away for further thought a range of viable alternatives

They are not:

• Argumentative debates; or
• Meetings of professional experts.

The purpose of the Student Civic Engagement Campaign dialogues is to create safe space for student voice and action on campus. We recognize the passion, power, and wisdom students bring, and hope to listen to, catalyze, and connect students.

• Go to our Hosting Dialogue page to find useful tools to help you prepare for your dialogue.

• Go to our Training Calendar (coming soon) to find out what free dialogue trainings are happening in your area.

• Or go to our Action Reports page (coming soon) to see what other students are doing nationwide, or report how your own dialogue or civic engagement event went.