Dialoguing for Democracy
Created September 9th, 2020 by Hamida Bhagirathy & Erin Byrnes
A collaboration between The Program on Intergroup Relations, The Ginsberg Center, The Office of Student Conflict Resolution, and Wolverine Wellness.
Framing Statement:
Dialogue is essential to a thriving democracy. As the campus community engages in the Democracy and Debate Theme Semester, enhancing our skills around dialogue will help us build a practice of learning together.
To understand oneself, how and at which point belief systems were formed, and how to effectively engage in conversation around pressing sociopolitical issues are some of the foundational practices this Democracy Cafe includes. In the lead up to Election Day, sifting through information and conversations across social media platforms, news networks and in campus spaces may feel overwhelming. This Democracy Cafe also includes resources for self-care and media literacy best practices as we seek to stay informed and engaged, while managing overall wellness and taking in accurate information from trusted sources.
How does one discern the difference between dialogue and other modes of communication? A self-guided Dialogue, Debate, & Discussion Visualization Links to an external site. immerses the user in different modes of communication, and highlights some of dialogue’s key attributes. Interested in creating a dialogue of your own? You and your group may want to begin with Developing Community Guidelines Links to an external site., practicing Listening and Communication Links to an external site. skills, planning for Ways of Being in Dialogue Links to an external site., and creating a Brave Space Links to an external site. that allows room to dialogue about hot button issues.
Dialogue entails sharing personal experiences with the intent of deepening understandings of an issue. Our social identities inform the ways in which we experience the world, including our political perspectives. Find out how social identities flavor political stances by reflecting upon a You Soup Activity Links to an external site. in which users are asked to recollect various ways their foundational experiences are infused into their everyday politics. When in dialogue, we may collectively experience or learn of a concept, but interpret that concept in a multitude of ways. As an introduction to exploring different perspectives, the Image Card Activity Links to an external site. incorporates visuals and prompting questions that enjoin users to dialogue about their differences. Digital and social media platforms provide space for perspective and information sharing, and Media Literacy Links to an external site. can help us cut through misinformation and questionable sources. At times, it may be challenging to understand where the “other side” is coming from, and Building Empathy Links to an external site. could help build bridges across divergent views.
Post-dialogue, what are ways one can become more involved in civic engagement in their communities? Check out Pathways to Civic Engagement Links to an external site. for U-M opportunities to engage in civic engagement for social change. Already involved? These Self-Care and Self-Love Links to an external site. resources offer strategies to maintain sustainable activism.
We invite you to use the activities, resources and general discussion questions in the Dialoging for Democracy cafe to further your understanding of yourself, the people and the world around you and to sharpen your dialogic skill set for the betterment of our democracy.
Multimedia:
President Obama Wokeness & Call-Out Culture
Sometimes You're a Caterpillar
Conflict Resolution Guide Exploration Links to an external site.
Text:
What is Intergroup Dialogue? Links to an external site.
Learning to Listen Links to an external site.
Developing Community Guidelines Links to an external site.
Establishing Brave Spaces Links to an external site.
Interrupting Bias Links to an external site.
Ways of Being in Dialogue Links to an external site.
Pathways to Civic Engagement Links to an external site.
Conflict Resolution Guide Links to an external site.
Reflective Guided Activities:
You Soup Activity Links to an external site.
Image Cards Activity Links to an external site.
Dialogue Debate Discussion Visualization Links to an external site.
Self-Love for Activists Workbook Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- What felt familiar about dialogue? What felt new about dialogue?
- Did you have any lightbulb moments? If yes, what were they?
- Were you surprised by anything as you went through the materials/activities? If yes, how?
- Are there any materials/activities you plan to use in dialogue? How will you use them?
- Is there anything you better understand about yourself and your own perspectives? If yes, how?
- Is there anything you better understand about other folks, and their perspectives? If yes, how?
- How will you carry this learning forward?
Bibliography:
Arao, Brian, and Kristi Clemens. "From safe spaces to brave spaces." The art of effective facilitation: Reflections from social justice educators (2013).
Clifton, Derrick. “A Snail and a Caterpillar Perfectly Explain How To Deal With Our Own Privileges.” Mic, Mic, 26 Mar. 2015, www.mic.com/articles/113780/a-snail-and-a-caterpillar-perfectly-explain-how-to-deal-with-our-own-privileges Links to an external site..
Killermann, S. You Soup: A Model for Understanding Diversity and the Intersections of Identity. SamKillermann.com Links to an external site.. 2012.
Ramsey, Franchesca. “‘Sometimes You're A Caterpillar.’” Franchesca.net, 25 May 2015, www.franchesca.net/portfolio/sometimes-youre-a-caterpillar/ Links to an external site..
Rueb, Emily S., and Derrick Bryson Taylor. “Obama on Call-Out Culture: 'That's Not Activism'.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Oct. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/obama-woke-cancel-culture.htm Links to an external site.l.
Tygielski, Shelly, et al. “Self-Care for Difficult Times.” Mindful, 28 May 2019, www.mindful.org/self-care-for-dark-times/ Links to an external site..