Sustained Dialogue Institute

Facilitation Training Options 2026-2027 and Free Monthly Info Sessions! Full virtual training calendar: https://luma.com/sustaineddialogue

Productive conversations don't happen by accident; they are intentionally designed, structured, and facilitated.

The Leading Productive Community Conversations training series equips you with the tools to lead dialogue that actually moves people and communities from knowing each other to doing something meaningful together. You'll walk away with two powerful skill sets:

💡 Learn how to design and lead dialogue sessions that are grounded in relationships and equity. Whether you're managing a team or convening a community, you'll leave with a practical framework for creating conversations that matter.

💡 Go deeper with the Sustained Dialogue process, a proven methodology developed by former diplomat Dr. Harold Saunders. Designed for willing participants navigating entrenched conflict, this approach builds trust, strengthens relationships, and moves groups toward real, lasting action.

Who is this for? Community organizers, facilitators, mediators, city council members, team leaders, educators, and anyone who wants to turn difficult conversations into meaningful change.

Want to know what Sustained Dialogue is and how to use it in your workplace, campus, or community? Join a free info session! Next call 👉 Monday 23rd, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern. https://luma.com/dziu022x

👋 Need a skills boost? Are you ready to take action and support difficult conversations in your community or workplace? 👋 This training equips you with the communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills top employers value most and AI can't provide 😉

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesdays-at-200pm-virtual-sustained-dialogue-training-fall-2025-tickets-1538143952969?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Tuesdays: SD Facilitation Skills Training (2:00-3:30pm EST / 11:00-12:30pm PDT) beginning Sept 23rd, 2025 on Zoom

Who will lead this? Only longtime fan favorites Rhonda Fitzgerald and Elena Martínez Torres!

Are you at an SD Deep Member campus? DM for your promo code!

Register today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesdays-at-200pm-virtual-sustained-dialogue-training-fall-2025-tickets-1538143952969?aff=oddtdtcreator

"Researchers at the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network (SDCN) conducted interviews with an average of eight students at five institutions in 2023. Additionally, researchers conducted focus groups during the three-day SDCN Summer Leaders’ Summit (SLS) with 14 undergraduate students from 14 different universities across 12 states. The students were divided into three groups and engaged in three one-hour dialogue sessions. Using methods such as structured interviews and focus groups and applying two compatible content analysis approaches, researchers captured the multilayered interplay between student engagement, in-group polarization, and the health of democratic ideals within the campus communities."

Check out this article in NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education's Leadership Exchange's most recent issue, "Democracy on Campus: Strategies to Cultivate Active and Engaged Citizens"

Leadership Exchange - Mail - Understanding Student Social Interaction and Engagement The profound ideological fractures within the United States are undeniably permeating higher education policies. These divisions are shaping curriculum

Campus Conflict and Conversation Help Desk | AAC&U Are you facing new or difficult conflicts or conversations on campus? Get timely advice or help with troubleshooting from a team of experienced scholars…

📢 Exciting News! SDI is teaming up with Unify America (https://www.unifyamerica.org/) to bring meaningful, high-impact conversations to classrooms—completely free of charge!

Introducing the Unify Challenge College Bowl: a virtual event where thousands of students from colleges across the country are paired for one-on-one dialogues across differences. Imagine a conservative student from a Texas community college connecting with a liberal student from a public university in Illinois. 🌍🤝

For about an hour, these pairs dive into 16 hot-button topics like mental health, gun laws, immigration, and free speech on campus. Through open dialogue, they share perspectives, find common ground, and discover the power of respectful conversations—even when they disagree.

The results? Students overwhelmingly rate the experience highly and report greater interest in civic engagement. Ready to challenge your views and grow through dialogue?

Sign up for the next College Bowl (Sept 24-Oct 9): https://www.unifyamerica.org/college-bowl

Unify Challenge College Bowl A virtual event that pairs thousands of college students for one-on-one conversations regardless of political values, college experiences, or location.