Courageous Conversations

The Courageous Conversations series invites Tufts students to come together, embrace challenging topics, and practice respectful exchange. Through facilitated discussions and interactive activities, you’ll practice engaging with differing perspectives, navigating tough subjects with confidence, and build stronger connections across campus.

What

• Two-hour discussion per week with a small group of open-minded peers
• Weekly topics will include current events, campus issues, and political and civic life
• Discussions will be facilitated by the Dean of Students Office team. Discussions are aimed at creating dialogue and community even when there are differing views. This is not set up as a debate and the goal is not to persuade. Rather, the goal is to carefully consider and learn from the thoughtful and sincere positions of others, particularly where their ideas diverge from yours.
• Conversations and workshops will be structured in a format that allows everyone to participate, learn, and be in community. Discussions will be respectful and open-minded.

Why

By participating, you will:

• Strengthen your ability to listen deeply and communicate respectfully across differences
• Form relationships and be in community with people you disagree with on some issues
• Gain new understandings of your peers, as they bring diverse experiences and perspectives
• Build skills that are directly useful in your civic life, future career, and everyday interactions
• Contribute to a more connected and inclusive campus culture
• Receive a Certificate of Completion for taking part in Intergroup Dialogue

Goals

• Expand your mind and your perspective beyond the bubble that you typically live in
• Learn from the perspectives of others; deepen the complexity of your own ideas by considering a spectrum of ideas on a given topic
• Master the skill of interacting positively with people even when you disagree, which will be useful in your civic life, your career, and your time at Tufts

Timeline

• Applications due October 13.
• Weekly meetings are Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m. throughout the fall semester (Free dinner always provided!)
• First session is October 15. Final session on December 3. No meeting on November 26.
• Participants commit to attend each week when they apply, as the point of the series is to build relationships over time.

Application

• Courageous Conversations is open to all undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the SMFA @ Tufts.
• Students from all political persuasions, religious beliefs, civic involvement levels, and identities are welcome!
• No prior civic, political, or dialogue experience necessary. It’s ok if you aren’t sure what you think about some issues or don’t feel super informed about current events.

Apply today to add your voice and help create a Tufts community where every conversation moves us forward!

Apply Now

Intergroup dialogue is a face-to-face, structured, and facilitated group experience that creates opportunities for participants of diverse social identities, such as race, gender, or socioeconomic class, engage in respectful conversation about contentious issues. Participants listen deeply, engage in self-reflection, and gain new perspectives on polarizing societal issues. Dialogues have helped to build relationships between conflicting groups, reduce polarization, promote increased self-awareness about biases, and strengthen diverse groups’ abilities to work together towards common goals.