Dialogue Development Group
DDG History
Who are We?
The Dialogue Development Group (DDG) is a recognized student-run organization at American University (AU) whose membership is composed of students, faculty, and alumni with education, training and/or experience in dialogue, and who are committed to the mission, vision and goals of DDG.
Mission
DDG’s mission is to build community, heal divisions, create new knowledge, and promote civic engagement (local, national and international), through the development, application, and institutionalization of dialogue programs at AU. A second and equally important aim of DDG is to provide dialogue facilitation, skill-building, education, and research opportunities to American University graduate students. While the university campus is its primary focus, DDG designs programs in ways that support interdependence and connection with the wider community locally, nationally and internationally.
Goals
- Identify and surface issues that matter to our community and/or that divide our community which dialogue could impact positively.
- Create a culture of dialogue on campus through the institutionalization and development of both curricular and extra-curricular dialogue programs.
- Provide education, training and practical experience in dialogue facilitation to students.
- Develop new approaches and applications for dialogue.
- Provide research opportunities on dialogue.
- Be a model, bridge, resource and support to AU and the wider community on how to overcome alienation, fragmentation, polarization, division and civic disengagement.
What is Dialogue?
“Dialogue is a way of relating genuinely with others whom you might not otherwise take time to know and understand. The result is personal growth, an expanded sense of community, and a deeper commitment to social justice.” ~ Maria Jessop, DDG's Founder
There are different definitions of and approaches to Dialogue. DDG defines it as a sustained collaboratively structured conversation where participants from one, two, or more "social identity groups" speak from their personal experience and explore both the differences and the common ground that exist among them. It is often useful to contrast Dialogue with discussion and debate. In Dialogue we are interested in "listening to understand" rather engaging in serial monologuing (which can happen in discussion)or "listening to gain advantage" (which typically happens in debate.) In Dialogue we do not try to convince others of our points of view. There is no emphasis on winning, but rather on learning, collaboration and on creating new and shared understanding.
Why Dialogue?
American University attracts students from every part of the country and the world. This diversity is a strength in that it provides students with a rich multicultural learning environment that can expand their worldview and deepen their understanding of other cultures. This diversity also presents a challenge in that differences can be a source of division, alienation, misperception, intolerance and prejudice, all of which can splinter our sense of community.
A growing societal trend, which is also contributing to the splintering of community in the United States, is the polarization of political and social attitudes. This polarization is fed by many sources, including the divisive nature of political campaigns, the debate and argument culture fostered by many in the television media, as well as the climate of fear generated by 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Dialogue is an effective means of engaging individuals, groups and communities on issues which concern or divide them. It has the power to build community by creating a safe space in which to explore differences, reach new and shared understanding, heal divisions, and motivate constructive action.
DDG History and Activities
Founded in 2006, DDG is an outgrowth of Professor Mohammed Abu-Nimer’s class Dialogue: Approaches and Applications. Students were motivated by their experience to find ways to engage the wider university community on the issues of race, privilege and other sources of division and alienation through meaningful dialogue. DDG also represented an effort to revive a dialogue initiative of Prof. Abu-Nimer’s and the Center for Global Peace from 2004.
In fall 2006, with the support of the International Peace and Conflict Resolution Program (IPCR) faculty and director, as well as student groups (CPI, SPCR, and SEPGA) a pilot program to engage AU students in dialogue on social identities, differences, inequalities and social change in both local and international contexts was initiated.
A dialogue component was introduced into five IPCR courses and one General Education course. Students enrolled in these courses were given the option of fulfilling part of their course requirements through participation in a sustained dialogue (six 2-hour weekly sessions) on one of the following topics: Ethnic and Cultural Diversity; Gender Relations; U.S. – Middle East and Islamic Relations. 41 students participated in four dialogue groups facilitated by trained graduate students under the supervision of Professors Ron Fisher and Mohammed Abu-Nimer.
Off-Campus Dialogues and Conference Presentations:
DDG aims to become a resource to the wider community for dialogue as well. To date, DDG has facilitated off-campus dialogues at the Peace Café at Bus Boys and Poets Restaurant in Washington, DC and at the Gandhi Memorial Center in DC.
In June 2007, Maria Jessop, Jared Ordway, Stephanie Hertz and Rachna Toshniwal presented a workshop on "Why and How to Dialogue in a University" at the Network for Peace through Dialogue's "Why Dialogue Conference" held at Marymount College in New York City.
Have an Idea for a Dialogue and Need Facilitators?
If you belong to a group or organization on or off-campus, which would like to explore holding a dialogue on a given topic, please contact us at ddg@american.edu.
How can I become a Facilitator for DDG?
Applications for facilitator positions will be reviewed on a case by case basis and will take into account a combination of factors, including education, dialogue experience, facilitation experience, motivation, and the programmatic needs of the dialogue program. Desired qualifications include the following:
- AU graduate student, alum, or mature undergrad
- Participation in a sustained dialogue group at AU or elsewhere
- Approved Weekend Dialogue / Facilitation Skills Workshop
- SIS Dialogue Approaches and Applications 3-credit Course
- Complete an application and review process.
Participant Testimonials
“I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I can be tolerant to other’s ideas and more accepting of them. I also trusted people who are complete strangers and was able to share my experiences with them without being afraid or shy about it.”
“What I learned the most is the culture of dialogue and the uniqueness of it that should be socialized more. It’s a healthy and innovative way in building awareness and eventually peace itself.”
“It is important to listen with a capital L. There are many out there who do not understand the importance of listening and tune people out. I will carry that knowledge with me in my personal life and interactions with different people.”
“As the dialogue progressed, we were encouraged to speak from our own experiences, and this was very important, as it not only made me think of where I was coming from, but also to consider what the other person was saying and how it applied or did not apply to my own experience.”
How can Faculty Use Dialogue to Enrich Student Learning?
Several faculty members have successfully incorporated dialogue into their course syllabi thus adding a rich experiential component to their courses. Typically, faculty have tied between 15% and 30% of their students' grades to dialogue participation, depending on the course and related assignments. Assignments have included journaling and research papers tying course content to the dialogue experience. Attendance is taken by the facilitators and reported to the instructors who have students participating in the dialogues.
If you would like more information or ideas on how to incorporate dialogue into a course, please contact Prof. Mohammed Abu-Nimer at abunimer@american.edu.
