Curious Conversation Committee (CCC) holds space for faculty and staff across divisions to come together and engage in active, collaborative discussions each month. The goal is to promote relationship-building and improve the campus climate through a social justice lens. Research indicates that this type of learning community can reduce microaggressions, increase micro-affirmations and lead to positive systemic changes through ground-up engagement (Madison, 2020; Young & Anderson, 2019; Jones & Rolón-Dow, 2019).
Interested in engaging in Curious Conversations with your fellow colleagues?
Check out the guide below to better navigate these sometimes challenging conversations.
CCC Objectives:
- Discuss issues relevant to social and racial injustice and engage in self-reflection to better understand privilege, power and our own intersectional identities.
- Share ideas and identify evidence-based strategies which promote inclusion, racial literacy and bias reduction, in an effort to restore trust and improve communication for student success.
- Learn how to be a better ally in an effort to forge authentic and strong relationships.
- Learn ways to practice self-compassion and radical empathy.
CCC committee members:
- Diana Castellanos, Talent Acquisition
- Erin Cody, Harpur Edge
- Kimberly Peabody, Health Promotion and Prevention
- Anne Saint-Juste, Residential Life, Divisional Diversity Officer
- Angella Kim, Associate Director of Employee Assistance Program
- Tian Burte, Resident Director
- Jazell Johnson, Residential Wellness Initiatives Director
Guide for dialogue
Quick reminders
- Listen first - Try to understand their perspective; follow up with clarifying questions
- Engage others - Try not to dominate the discussion
- Be aware of body language - Try to avoid crossing arms or mimicking
- Respectfully disagree - Discuss ideas and issues, not people
- Avoid insults - No name calling
- Speak for yourself - Use "I" phrases; rephrase and summarize what you've heard
Intergroup dialogue
Goal: to work toward understanding, not necessarily to reach agreement
Tips to effectively engage in dialogue:
- Reflect, connect, act
- Honor silence
- Listen to understand, hold space and don't interrupt
- Do not dismiss questions
- Provide a sense of safety
- Exercise empathy and humility
- Ask questions and allow them to be asked of you
- Allow everyone the opportunity to speak
- Build and be a model for positive relationships
- Explore conflicts from multiple perspectives
- Encourage trust and respect among participants
Difficult conversations
Before beginning a dialogue, it is helpful to establish ground rules that the group collectively agrees to follow. Suggested ground rules:
- Be aware of how much space you take up in the conversation and especially how that intersects with your privileged identities; share the air time with others
- Listen for understanding, not to "win"
- Do not expect that everyone will always agree
- Critique ideas, but avoid personal attacks; dehumanizing others and making personal attacks should not be tolerated
- Challenge yourself to learn something new and ask questions when something is unclear
- Create a space for students to speak honestly and openly but also a space for students to acknowledge when someone's words are hurtful