Sustained Dialogue

Sustained Dialogue is a College-wide program that utilizes dialogue to promote civility and address issues on campus and in the community that are often rooted in differences of social identity (e.g., race, gender, religion, politics). It is an action-oriented dialogue process for addressing those issues and empowering sustainable positive change on campus and in the community. This training provides people with foundational knowledge and skills for leading change through dialogue.

Tri-C is the only community college member of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, an initiative of the Sustained Dialogue Institute. The mission of the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network is to develop everyday leaders who engage differences as strengths to improve campuses, workplaces and communities.

UPDATE: Sustained Dialogue Inclusive Leadership Trainings (for 2020-2021 academic year)

Fall 2020 training has moved to a fully online platform. Training will take place over the course of three weeks, beginning the week of September 21st. In this new format, participants will select one of two options:

• Option A: Tuesdays from 2:30pm to 4:30pm
  • Session 1 - September 22nd (2:30 to 4:30pm)
  • Session 2 - September 30th (2:30 to 4:30pm)
  • Session 3 - October 6th (2:30 to 4:30pm)
• Option B: Fridays from 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Session 1 - September 25th (10:00am to 12:00pm)
  • Session 2 - October 2nd (10:00am to 12:00pm)
  • Session 3 - October 9th (10:00am to 12:00pm) 

All trainings are open college-wide to students, faculty, and staff.

In order to obtain a Certificate of Completion participants must attend all three sessions.

Student Opportunities

There are several opportunities for student participation. These include serving as a student moderator or a participant. 

For Fall 2020 student dialogue groups will be conducted fully online via WebEx.

Student Moderators: Currently we are recruiting students representing all campuses who reflect the different voices in the community as dialogue group leaders and moderators for the 2020-2021 school year. Please email or call Ty Olson if interested (contact information below). During the semester, in weekly sessions of approximately one and a half hours, moderators will co-lead a group of 8-12 students to engage critical issues affecting your campus and community. The group will then propose college and campus-wide methods of addressing related conflicts.

Student Participants: Students who would like to contribute their perspective and ideas for how to address change on campus can participate in a sustained dialogue group. Please email Ty Olson if interested (contact information below).

Faculty and Staff Group: If you are interested in developing a Sustained Dialogue group for a staff or faculty group on your campus, please contact Tyler Olson directly at Tyler.Olson@tri-c.edu.