Students from an array of backgrounds came together at UConn Storrs on March 27 to do just that during the “Let’s Talk: Navigating Hard Conversations on Campus” retreat sponsored by UConn Hillel, the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute, and the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate.

Participants in the four-hour retreat received a certificate upon completion of the event (contributed photo; UConn Today).

Edina Oestreicher, the executive director of UConn Hillel, said that she was invited to apply for a grant to create a “Campus Connections” initiative where student leaders gain the transferable skills of actively listening, asking meaningful questions, and practicing thoughtful communication with other leaders. With the grant, UConn Hillel partnered with the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute to host an interactive workshop facilitated by faculty affiliated with the “Democracy and Dialogues Initiative.”

History Professor Brendan Kane, co-director of the “Democracy & Dialogues” program, started thinking about creating a new dialogue model for respectful communication back in 2016. Kane wanted to engage scholars in meaningful and dynamic ways with community members, emphasizing UConn’s mission as a public university. Simultaneously, witnessing universities trying to implement spaces for dialogue after widespread incidents of racism occurred across campuses nationwide, Kane wanted to create a unique process to build strong and resilient communities. The “Democracy and Dialogues Initiative” is part of Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs.

For complete coverage of the event, please see the UConn Today article “Retreat Aims at Fostering Civil Dialogue in an Era of Polarization.”

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