Democracy & Dialogues

Through the Democracy and Dialogues Initiative, UConn is working to increase democratic and civic capacity by supporting community dialogues on critical issues, providing moderator and facilitation training for dialogues and deliberations, and partnering with campus colleagues and local institutions to increase meaningful participation by all community members.

This initiative is part of Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs and supported by the Office of Global Affairs, the Office of the Provost, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Humanities Institute, UConn Extension, and the Division of Student Affairs’ Parent's Fund.

The Encounters Series is dedicated to fostering unexpected conversations around divisive issues and obscure knowledge. The program dives deeply into subjects that are of interest to the Greater Hartford community through facilitated, small-group dialogues followed by a question-and-answer style conversation with UConn faculty and community partners. Readings are provided beforehand to encourage informed and informal dialogue within conversations that often prove to be polarizing, and thus unproductive. Read more about The Encounters Series through Humanities for All.

Jun

11

Building Bridges: Tools for Dialogue, Constructive Communication, and Connection on Campus

9:00 AM

Join the Democracy and Dialogues initiative and Essential Partners for this 4-hour, highly interactive workshop introducing dialogue-based tools and frameworks to help participants lead and support more constructive conversations across departments, disciplines, and diverse perspectives.

Retreat Aims at Fostering Civil Dialogue in an Era of Polarization

Students learned tools for facilitating constructive dialogue and fostering connections with those with different perspectives
At Visit to Dodd Center, Former Members of Congress Discuss Bridging Divides – and Issue a Call to Action

‘Today’s conversation is important, because it is a reminder of what our discourse can be’
Metanoia 2024 Kick-Off on Wednesday, April 17

This year’s Metanoia will focus on ‘pathways to productive civil discourse’
Dodd Impact Team Seeks ‘A More Perfect Union’ Through Community Conversation

History professor Brendan Kane and other UConn experts hosted statewide discussions on the nation’s founding documents, funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Connecticut Humanities Council