1. Day 3 Introduction to Dialogue
Preview Webinar: (Competencies I and II – see below)
Overview and background of the project
Why community dialogue matters and what is Extension’s role in it
Who should attend
Expectations from involvement
Competencies to address
I - Civil Dialogue Overview
Before a dialogue process can effectively take shape, community organizers/facilitators need some basic understanding of what dialogue is and when and how it can successfully move a community forward in addressing a challenging issue or at least better understanding it.
Understand the importance of dialogue in addressing challenging issues.
Recognize multiple ways of knowing that influence the way people think about issues.
Understand and can explain the realms impacting community decision-making (Venn diagram).
Identify factors influencing the type of public input that may be appropriate in a given situation.
Recognize situations in which dialogue may be appropriate and when it may not.
II - Civil Dialogue and the Land Grant University (LGU)
Aligning civil dialogue efforts with the Land Grant mission sometimes leads to puzzling questions. In order to successfully integrate civil dialogue into the LGU work, an understanding of how the two fit together—or are challenged to do so—will help pave the way to successful university-community collaboration (see Wright, 2012).
Understand the history of Extension as a grassroots knowledge-sharing and relationship-building institution, particularly the role that group discussion and civil dialogue has played in its history (Shaffer, 2016).
Recognize how dialogue can strengthen Extension work with communities (Hustedde, 1996)
Articulate the value of civil dialogue to both the LGU as well as to communities
Balance “deliver science based knowledge” with community engagement to work alongside communities for solutions (Peters, 2014).
Recognize community building as one of everyone in Extension’s tasks.
Address common misperceptions of Extension’s involvement in civil dialogue such as Extension’s mission and potential roles in conflict.
Understand Extension’s own unique challenges in reaching all audiences within a given community.
Introduction to Dialogue
Approach Experience: Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation

2. Warm-Up: Morning Buzz
What is the most unusual task you’ve ever been given as a CES employee (or in your current role)?
What is one task you’d like to take off your “to do” list in your current role?

3. The Spectrum of Civic Engagement
Sliding scale based on time, power, and complexity
First, defining what is meant by civil dialogue or engagement may provide some useful context. This table depicts a range of efforts where community members and CES can interact. Each has its place given a set of interacting factors:
Time – how much time do we have to make a decision and act? If a tornado were approaching our community and was predicted to hit within 15 minutes, this would clearly not be the time for dialogue. Simply, someone with authority and knowledge about the best place for safety would need to quickly communicate to those in the storm’s path about what to do. On the other hand, deeply embedded issues require much more time and thoughtful discussion to unravel. The more that an issue needs to be unpacked to resolve, the more time it takes to find good solutions.
Power – how much power can/will the “power holders” give to the people in this situation? There are times when power holders (often elected or appointed officials) cannot release total power to the community to resolve an issue. An example might be when federal/state legislation dictates the parameters of a decision, or when a grant opportunity sets limits on the choices that can be funded. In these cases, those officials may choose to seek input from the community, but of necessity, must reserve the final decision-making power and action for themselves. However, with widely felt wicked problems that impact the community greatly, and where the community can take meaningful action, power can be shifted to those individuals, with the community officials coming alongside as supporters.
Complexity – how complex is the problem? Does it span a wide range of issues or is it relatively succinct in its boundaries? As was touched briefly above, complex problems require much thoughtful discussion and exploration to begin to map a course forward. Complexity, by definition, indicates multiple perspectives and influencers that must be considered before an effective, mutually beneficial path can be charted.
The path forward toward racial understanding and healing slides all three of these scales far to the right side of the spectrum, requiring time to thoughtfully explore the complexities that impact the lives of people in communities and that provide opportunities for each individual to take part in positive change.
Source: International Association of Public Participation

4. Potential Roles in a Dialogue
Note-Taker
Community
Coach
Coordinator
Participant
Communicator/
Marketer
Recruiter
Small Group
Facilitator

5. The Best and the Worst
What were some of the best facilitation sessions you have experienced?
What were some of the worst?
What principles can you draw from these?

6. Dealing with Challenges in Dialogues

7. Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation

8. Learnings/Re-Learnings
Closure
Regrets
Appreciations
Learnings/Re-Learnings
Anything Else

9. What would have made today’s experience even better?
Closure, continued
What would have made today’s experience even better?
Finish the closure by asking the question on this slide. Have recorders note responses.
What would have made today’s experience even better?