Dialogue Zone

Every semester, the Dialogue Zone hosts conversations on a variety of topics. Participants explore challenging subjects relevant to contemporary society in small groups, guided by trained facilitators. Our goal is to build understanding among people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. While many conversations are one-time events, others extend over multiple sessions, allowing participants to build trust, explore topics in greater depth, and strengthen their relationships.

The Dialogue Zone works with department chairs, supervisors or other organizational leaders who are looking for assistance in facilitating difficult conversations with and among their staff. The Dialogue Zone can help with planning such conversations, preparing the staff and faculty who will be engaging in them, and reflecting on what developed from the conversation, so that next steps can be identified. If more direct involvement is desired, Dialogue Zone staff also can facilitate these conversations. Supervisors can schedule a meeting with Dialogue Zone staff to explore possibilities and discuss needs by emailing dialoguezone@udayton.edu. 

Student Facilitators

Students can work for the Dialogue Zone as a student facilitator, which is also a part-time student employment position.

Student facilitators help to develop, promote and facilitate the Dialogue Zone’s programs, especially those focusing on the needs and interests of students. Student facilitators play a key role in building partnerships with student groups on campus and help the Dialogue Zone understand their needs and concerns.

To work as a student facilitator, students must either have completed or enroll in UDI 272 Facilitating Dialogue.

Faculty and Staff Facilitators

Every year, a cohort of faculty and staff are selected to go through a two-year facilitator training program.

During the first year, participants learn various principles and practices for dialogue. They participate in multiple dialogues and facilitate dialogues alongside others.

During the second year, faculty and staff continue to facilitate conversations for the Dialogue Zone, including two that they develop. They also assist in training first-year facilitators.

The Dialogue Zone offers workshops for students, faculty and staff to build skills for engaging in dialogue. Topics include listening for understanding, asking effective questions, managing conflict, and exploring the stories that people tell about their experiences. Some workshops focus on specific contexts, such as engaging others in political conversations, communicating across cultures or using dialogue as a means of organizational learning.

Join us at for a two-and-a-half day institute to learn more about what dialogue is and how it differs from other ways of engaging people with diverse views. The staff of UD’s Dialogue Zone will guide you through the steps to build a truly dialogic space and the skills required to facilitate dialogue, from community norms to validating feelings, and managing triggers and the emotions that come with dealing with controversial and challenging topics. Strengthening your organization’s capacity for dialogue can build understanding, inclusion, respect, cooperation, and community among members.