Transcript Training and Supporting Facilitators of Dialogue

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
What is Intergroup Dialogue?
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…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.
Intergroup Dialogue Philosophy
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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)
Training-Support Sequence
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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
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.
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.
Training Facilitators
Developing - PASK
PASSION
AWARENESS
SKILLS
KNOWLEDGE
Training Facilitators
Stages of Training
1.
Getting to Know One Another. Who Are We and What is
Intergroup Dialogue?
2.
Principles of Social Justice Education and Intergroup
Dialogues
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Practice Facilitating an Intergroup Dialogue on Specific
Topics
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Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building…Dialogue Cofacilitation
Training Facilitators Stage 1
Getting to Know One Another. Who Are We and What is
Intergroup Dialogue?
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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.
Training Facilitators
Stage 1 (cont.)
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Small group dynamics
Feedback
Comfort zones and learning edges
Importance of dissonance
Intergroup communication/interaction and
group processes
Training Facilitators Stage 2
Principles of Social Justice Education and Intergroup Dialogues
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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
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 cofacilitations and to provide their reflections on
process and content
Instructors then provide feedback on their
facilitation (esp. inquiry, surfacing, conflict,
multipartiality, and triggers)
Training Facilitators Stage 4
Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building….Dialogue Cofacilitation
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Being an ally
Teamwork, alliances and coalition-building
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
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
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
Facilitator Support
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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
Facilitator Support
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Beginning Retreat
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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
Facilitator Support
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Coaching groups
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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
Facilitator Support
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Observations
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Consultations
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Coaches observe dialogues for content and
process issues
Meet with co-facilitator pairs for continued support
and development
“Closing the Loop”-Meeting with the current
training class to share experiences
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
The Program on Intergroup Relations
University of Michigan
Monita C. Thompson, Co-Director
Kelly E. Maxwell, Ph.D., Associate Director
Contacting us:
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.igr.umich.edu