1. Student Conversation Circles About Race, Gender, Religion, Economic Status, and Sexual Orientation
Darien Michele Gregory, M.A., M.S.
Glenda Gross, Ph.d.
Stephanie Rosado
SUNY DIVERSITY CONFERENCE 2017

2. Student Conversation Circles
The Student Conversation Circles is a collaborative initiative between Onondaga Community College and InterFaith Works of Central NY.
The overall purpose of the Student Conversation Circles is to provide a forum for students to share their perspectives & experiences related to their identities & learn about others.
Students who participate will demonstrate an improved understanding & appreciation of diversity, greater empathy for others, and more fluency in working with diverse groups.

3. Student Conversation Circles: Structure
Students enrolled in the dialogues are also enrolled in Onondaga Community College
Trained faculty/staff facilitate the dialogues
Students meet one or twice per week over the course of a six-week period
Each session has clearly defined objectives and learning outcomes
Each session includes videos or articles to generate dialogue
Students also come to each session with topics they want to discuss with their group
Students establish and revisit the rules which determines how the group will function

4. Student Incentives Students who complete the dialogues receive:
A Certificate of Completion and lunch with the college president
A Letter of Recommendation from the President of Onondaga Community College, Dr. Casey Crabill, and from OCC’s Vice President/Chief Diversity Officer
First consideration for employment at Onondaga Community College
$1,000 for completing an approved Applied Learning Experience project

5. Examples of Group Ground Rules
No profanity directed at someone
Everyone has to talk at least once
Don’t judge me—except Matthew
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Say “BOUNDARIES” when you may have been offended
Catch yourself before becoming aggressive
No “yo mama” comments
Always keep it 100 (REAL)
When someone gets off topic or interrupts say “pineapples”

6. Student Conversation Circles: Sessions 1-3
The first session is an introduction to each other and to the dialogue process.
The second session introduces the concept of structural inequality; participants explore how stereotypes relate to the present and the past.
The third session delves into the concepts of privileged and targeted identity statuses utilizing an (Un)common Ground or Privilege Walk exercise as well as an article that addresses stereotypes about people in poverty.

7. Student Conversation Circles: Sessions 4-6
The fourth session introduces the concepts of identity and social location—how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.
The fifth session invites participants to think about their biases and discuss ways to overcome them.
The sixth session provides the group with an opportunity to think about collaboration and forms of collective and personal action that will advance social justice.

8. “Silent Beats”

9. Reflections What did you see in the video?
What stereotypes/generalizations were people making in the video? Which ones were accurate predictors of people’s behavior?
What was the significance of the taps and why was there no talk in the video?
Has anyone had a similar experience to one of the actors in the video?
What do you think was the point the filmmakers were trying to make?

10. Applied Learning Experience
The Applied Learning Experience (ALE) provides students with the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the dialogues and get involved with the Greater Syracuse community.
Students interested in completing an ALE project must:
Complete the dialogues
Submit a one page proposal, including a need assessment, project description, learning outcomes, and information about how the project’s impact will be assessed.
Two (2) letters of recommendations. (campus supervisor, site supervisor)

11. Applied Learning Experience: The Student Perspective
Stephanie Rosado
Love2Love, La Liga Spanish Action League

12. Questions

13. Panelists
Darien Gregory Director of Concurrent Enrollment & Secondary School Programs, Conversation Circle Facilitator Dr. Glenda Gross Associate Professor, Sociology, Conversation Circle Facilitator Stephanie Rosado Major: Hotel Management/Hospitality Graduation: December ‘17 Graduate Project: Love2Love (La Liga Spanish Action League)