Community Dialogue

Points of Diversity Community Dialogue

Community Dialogue strengthens communities/neighborhoods and addresses critical public issues: such as; racism; inclusion/exclusion, harassment of particular populations; police and minority communities conflict, institutional bias. It is a forum that draws participants from many parts of the community to exchange information face-to-face, share personal stories and experiences, honestly express perspectives, clarify viewpoints and develop solutions to community concerns. Individual concerns are discussed in safe spaces and lead to consensus on group actions.

Dialogue to Change (previously known as Study Circles) groups are voluntary, self-organizing educational groups of 5-12 people who meet four to six times to explore a subject, often a critical social issue.

Measures of Successful Group dialogue are

• A move toward solutions rather than analyzing the problem

• Move beyond usual or perceived boundaries’

• Uniting of divided communities

• Aims for a change in individuals, neighborhood and eventually policy if indicated

• Increased Community Engagement