1. Training and Supporting Facilitators of Intergroup Dialogue
A New Frontier in Diversity, Learning, and Leadership for Undergraduate Students
The Program on Intergroup Relations
University of Michigan

4. What is Intergroup Dialogue?
…a face-to-face meeting between members from two (or more) different social groups that have a history of conflict or potential conflict. The groups are broadly defined by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, socio-economic class and other social group identities. Participants engage in a semi-structured process to explore commonalities and differences, intergroup conflicts and possibilities for alliance and coalition building for social justice action. The dialogues occur over an extended period of time and are facilitated by trained peers.

5. Intergroup Dialogue Philosophy
Based on social groups with a history of conflict
Target/Agent group status (power & privilege)
Balanced representation of groups
Recognizing conflict as part of the process
Four-Stage Model (time & reflection)

6. Training-Support Sequence
Undergraduate Peer Facilitators
Training and Practicum courses—not the same as intergroup dialogue
Balancing social identity, social justice, and facilitation learning
Experiential, student-centered pedagogy
Recruiting and selecting student facilitators

7. Training Facilitators
The Training Course:
The goals of this course are to develop students’ knowledge and skills as potential facilitators of intergroup dialogues. As such, the course builds upon, but does not replicate, the principles and content of intergroup dialogues themselves.

8. Training Facilitators
Specific Course Goals:
A grounded understanding of intergroup dialogue and dialogic processes
Increased understanding of social justice principles such as social identity, privilege and oppression, power and conflict
Facilitation skills and competencies
Explorations of the roles of social justice education and advocacy.

9. Training Facilitators Developing - PASK
PASSION
AWARENESS
SKILLS
KNOWLEDGE

10. Training Facilitators Stages of Training
Getting to Know One Another. Who Are We and What is Intergroup Dialogue?
Principles of Social Justice Education and Intergroup Dialogues
Practice Facilitating an Intergroup Dialogue on Specific Topics
Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building…Dialogue Co-facilitation

11. Training Facilitators Stage 1 Getting to Know One Another
Training Facilitators Stage 1 Getting to Know One Another. Who Are We and What is Intergroup Dialogue?
Social identity explorations
Team building
What does it mean to facilitate intergroup dialogues and social justice education?
What is intergroup dialogue and how is it used as a method of social justice education?
Becoming an intergroup dialogue facilitator.

12. Training Facilitators Stage 1 (cont.)
Small group dynamics
Feedback
Comfort zones and learning edges
Importance of dissonance
Intergroup communication/interaction and group processes

13. Training Facilitators Stage 2 Principles of Social Justice Education and Intergroup Dialogues
Forms of Justice
Power & Oppression
Oppression and privilege
Modern forms of prejudice, discrimination, and
-isms
Internalized -isms
Facilitating dialogue
The uses and management of conflict
Co-facilitating intergroup dialogues

14. Training Facilitators Stage 3 Practice Facilitating an Intergroup Dialogue on Specific Topics
Trainees are required to do 1 out-of-class mock co-facilitation and 1-2 in-class mock co-facilitations and to provide their reflections on process and content
Instructors then provide feedback on their facilitation (esp. inquiry, surfacing, conflict, multipartiality, and triggers)

15. Training Facilitators Stage 4 Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building….Dialogue Co-facilitation
Being an ally
Teamwork, alliances and coalition-building

16. Training Facilitators Assessing Facilitator Competency & Readiness
Trainees are evaluated by instructors on their readiness as it relates to PASK
-We use a Personal Resource Assessment Chart for this purpose

17. Facilitator Support The Practicum Course:
A 3-credit course for trained peer facilitators to help develop and improve their skills as dialogue facilitators
Taken during the semester that they facilitate an intergroup dialogue

18. Facilitator Support Course Goals:
To discuss and prepare facilitators for their role in the dialogue groups
To strengthen students’ own understanding of intergroup relations
To further develop the co-facilitation relationship and experience
     

19. Facilitator Support
To discuss theory and practice of group observation, conflict intervention, intergroup communication and community building
To continue their own personal growth and development in the areas of social justice education

20. Facilitator Support Beginning Retreat
Co-facilitation exercises and development
Experiential exercises about the meaning of intergroup dialogue
Experiential exercises or lecturette about how conflict can be a necessary and useful step in building social justice
“Workshop” exercises
Logistical information about running a dialogue

21. Facilitator Support Coaching groups
Small groups consisting of one coach (instructor) and 4-8 student facilitators
Review weekly dialogue session
Continue facilitation skill-building
Continue social justice skill-building
Prepare for upcoming dialogue session

22. Facilitator Support Observations Consultations
Coaches observe dialogues for content and process issues
Consultations
Meet with co-facilitator pairs for continued support and development
“Closing the Loop”-Meeting with the current training class to share experiences

23. Facilitator Support Practicum Assignments:
Weekly attendance at practicum sessions and intergroup dialogues
Weekly planning and preparation
Weekly dialogue feedback
Occasional journals
Final report about the facilitation experience

24. The Program on Intergroup Relations University of Michigan
Monita C. Thompson, Co-Director
Kelly E. Maxwell, Ph.D., Associate Director
Contacting us: