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.

Sustained Dialogue Inclusive Leadership Trainings (for 2019-2020 academic year)

*Dates and locations for upcoming trainings will be posted in June 2019.

• October TBD, 9:00am to 3:30pm
  • Who: Open college-wide to students, faculty, and staff.
  • Where: TBD
  • How: Email Tyler.Olson@tri-c.edu to sign-up.
• February TBD, 9:00am to 3:30pm
  • Who: Open college-wide to students, faculty, and staff.
  • Where: TBD
  • How: Email Tyler.Olson@tri-c.edu to sign-up.

Student Opportunities

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

Student Moderators: Currently we are recruiting students at all 4 campuses who reflect the different voices in the community as dialogue group leaders and moderators for the 2018-2019 school year. Please email or call Tyler 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 or call Tyler 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.