Civil Dialogue Project

The Civil Dialogue Project fosters meaningful conversations to help students, faculty, staff and community partners engage on important topics and build connection and understanding. 

We provide training and resources to build the skills and confidence to engage in and facilitate civic discourse, and provide opportunities for the campus and community to participate in dialogue on a variety of topics.

To request a training, partner on a program or learn more about our work, contact Saida Burns-Moore, civic engagement coordinator, at sburnsmoore@binghamton.edu. 

What is dialogue?

Dialogue is a form of communication focused on building community and understanding, rather than on convincing or persuading others. Dialogue is distinct from debate, which has a focus on winning an argument. 

Through dialogue, participants have their own views heard and actively listen and ask questions to better understand others. Dialogue does not ask you to give up your own beliefs; it acknowledges how our own values, experiences and identities shape our perspectives. 

Some forms of dialogue, such as deliberation, ask participants to explore various approaches to solving public challenges, weighing benefits and tradeoffs from diverse perspectives.  

Why dialogue?

The ability to communicate your own views and understand others’ perspectives is an important skill in our civic, academic, personal and professional lives. 

Dialogue can also be a tool to build connection, understanding and community. Dialogue allows participants to gain a more complete understanding of an issue and to explore approaches to solving difficult problems. 

While dialogue does not have a goal of changing your own or others’ minds about an issue, it may lead to a more nuanced and complete understanding of an issue.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

from the Constructive Dialogue Institute

• Let go of winning.
  You can’t connect with someone—or persuade them—if your main goal is to defeat them.
• Ask Questions.
  The best conversations start with genuine questions, not fixed conclusions.
• Share stories.
  When it comes to sensitive topics, storytelling is often more effective than facts alone.
• Respond rather than react.
  When conflict strikes, slow down and choose a better path forward.
• Find what’s shared.
  Even in disagreement, there’s often common ground—if you know how to look for it.