Sustained Dialogue Institute

02/19/2026

In a powerful conversation with Ezra Klein, conflict resolution facilitator and author of The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker reflects on her formative experience with Sustained Dialogue at the University of Virginia, and why the United States needs to gather across differences more than ever.

When Parker and her peers launched SD circles at the University of Virginia in 2001, they learned something crucial. The most transformative groups weren't just diverse; they brought together students with clear, specific differences: College Republicans and LGBTQ+ students, Jewish American and Arab American students.

"We had incredible conversations. We went into territory we barely ever get to go into." [...] "Everyone knew exactly why they were in the room. That clarity created the container for genuine depth."

Parker's insight is urgent: "If Americans don't gather more and across differences, we'll slide further into authoritarianism. The antidote is connection."

We need spaces where people can practice building relationships across cultural, political and generational differences; the kind of relationships that a strong democracy requires. This is the work Sustained Dialogue has honed in colleges, communities and workplaces over the last 20+ years.

Watch the excerpt below, in which Priya reflects on those UVA circles and her training with former diplomat and founder of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, Dr. Harold Saunders.

What role can Sustained Dialogue play in your community?

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Full interview and transcript: Is Your Social Life Missing Something? This Conversation Is for You. Published on Feb. 3, 2026
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-priya-parker.html

02/19/2026

Facilitation Training Options 2026-2027 and Free Monthly Info Sessions! Full virtual training calendar: https://luma.com/sustaineddialogue

Productive conversations don't happen by accident; they are intentionally designed, structured, and facilitated.

The Leading Productive Community Conversations training series equips you with the tools to lead dialogue that actually moves people and communities from knowing each other to doing something meaningful together. You'll walk away with two powerful skill sets:

💡 Learn how to design and lead dialogue sessions that are grounded in relationships and equity. Whether you're managing a team or convening a community, you'll leave with a practical framework for creating conversations that matter.

💡 Go deeper with the Sustained Dialogue process, a proven methodology developed by former diplomat Dr. Harold Saunders. Designed for willing participants navigating entrenched conflict, this approach builds trust, strengthens relationships, and moves groups toward real, lasting action.

Who is this for? Community organizers, facilitators, mediators, city council members, team leaders, educators, and anyone who wants to turn difficult conversations into meaningful change.

Want to know what Sustained Dialogue is and how to use it in your workplace, campus, or community? Join a free info session! Next call 👉 Monday 23rd, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern. https://luma.com/dziu022x

10/24/2025

We see Alaska Humanities Forum on the registration and we smile here!

What kind of professional development do staff do at the Forum? The short answer: a lot.

All Forum staff have a yearly PD budget to use on learning skills and building relationships that help them in their work. Here’s a sample of just a few of the things our programs staff have done recently:

🔅Facilitating Collaborative Innovation (Co:Creative Cooperative)
🔅Sustained Dialogue Moderator Skill Series (Sustained Dialogue Institute)
🔅Our Cultural Landscape Culturally Responsive Education Conference (Sealaska Heritage Institute)
🔅The Art of Hosting (Harvest Moon Consulting)
🔅Leadership Summit (The Foraker Group)
🔅Developing Core Practices of Evaluation (Federation of State Humanities Councils)
🔅Equity-Centered Storytelling (Storytellers for Change)
🔅Managing to Change the World (Management Center)

08/18/2025

👋 Need a skills boost? Are you ready to take action and support difficult conversations in your community or workplace? 👋 This training equips you with the communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills top employers value most and AI can't provide 😉

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesdays-at-200pm-virtual-sustained-dialogue-training-fall-2025-tickets-1538143952969?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Tuesdays: SD Facilitation Skills Training (2:00-3:30pm EST / 11:00-12:30pm PDT) beginning Sept 23rd, 2025 on Zoom

Who will lead this? Only longtime fan favorites Rhonda Fitzgerald and Elena Martínez Torres!

Are you at an SD Deep Member campus? DM for your promo code!

Register today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesdays-at-200pm-virtual-sustained-dialogue-training-fall-2025-tickets-1538143952969?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/24/2025

Student voices were at the center of the Sustained Dialogue Summer Leaders' Summit this weekend! The impact? New skills, deeper self and social-awareness, and a growing community of young leaders committed to dialogue-driven change.

Thanks to our co-host Amy Cohen, Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director, Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service at The George Washington University, and all the contributors who co-created this powerful gathering: Rhonda Fitzgerald, Elena Martínez Torres, Elizabeth Wuerz, Ana King Garcia, Anne Butcher, Christina Ciambriello, Cordell Billups, M.A., & Kyle O'Dell

11/25/2024

🌟 Fridays at 1 PM: Virtual Sustained Dialogue Training (December 2024) 🌟
Ready to make a difference in your community and beyond? Join us for three weekly 4-hour sessions this December to master Sustained Dialogue skills—a powerful process that brings diverse groups together to build relationships and foster collaboration.
🗓️ When? Fridays, Dec 6th, 13th & 20th at 1 PM (EST) / 10 AM (PDT)
💻 Where? Zoom – join from anywhere!
✨ Why?
✅ Learn practical tools to navigate complex conversations
✅ Build relationships across differences and create meaningful change
✅ Gain valuable skills for leadership, teamwork, and conflict transformation
🚀 Don’t miss this opportunity to grow as a changemaker!
🎟️ Sign up today and secure your spot:

Join us weekly for 3, 4-hour sessions to learn Sustained Dialogue, a process that helps diverse groups build relationships & work together

09/26/2024

"Researchers at the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network (SDCN) conducted interviews with an average of eight students at five institutions in 2023. Additionally, researchers conducted focus groups during the three-day SDCN Summer Leaders’ Summit (SLS) with 14 undergraduate students from 14 different universities across 12 states. The students were divided into three groups and engaged in three one-hour dialogue sessions. Using methods such as structured interviews and focus groups and applying two compatible content analysis approaches, researchers captured the multilayered interplay between student engagement, in-group polarization, and the health of democratic ideals within the campus communities."

Check out this article in NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education's Leadership Exchange's most recent issue, "Democracy on Campus: Strategies to Cultivate Active and Engaged Citizens"

The profound ideological fractures within the United States are undeniably permeating higher education policies. These divisions are shaping curriculum

09/26/2024

We're excited to field campus based questions alongside American Association of Colleges and Universities

The American Association of Colleges and Universities has launched a resource to advise educators on how to tone down vitriol and foster constructive dialogue.

09/23/2024

Are you facing new or difficult conflicts or conversations on campus? Get timely advice or help with troubleshooting from a team of experienced scholars…

09/12/2024

📢 Exciting News! SDI is teaming up with Unify America (https://www.unifyamerica.org/) to bring meaningful, high-impact conversations to classrooms—completely free of charge!

Introducing the Unify Challenge College Bowl: a virtual event where thousands of students from colleges across the country are paired for one-on-one dialogues across differences. Imagine a conservative student from a Texas community college connecting with a liberal student from a public university in Illinois. 🌍🤝

For about an hour, these pairs dive into 16 hot-button topics like mental health, gun laws, immigration, and free speech on campus. Through open dialogue, they share perspectives, find common ground, and discover the power of respectful conversations—even when they disagree.

The results? Students overwhelmingly rate the experience highly and report greater interest in civic engagement. Ready to challenge your views and grow through dialogue?

Sign up for the next College Bowl (Sept 24-Oct 9): https://www.unifyamerica.org/college-bowl

A virtual event that pairs thousands of college students for one-on-one conversations regardless of political values, college experiences, or location.

08/28/2024

Join fellow system thinkers, bridge builders, community organizers, strategic leaders, and knowledgeable educators next week for the Sustained Dialogue Moderator Skill Series. Discover the frameworks behind the SD process and gain essential skills to foster impactful dialogue and transform your community!

We have some spots available https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thursdays-at-330pm-virtual-sustained-dialogue-training-fall-2024-tickets-933885866767

SDCN with deep partnerships can register participants at no additional cost with your promo code. Want to know the status of your partnership? Email us [email protected]

Join us weekly for ten 90 min sessions to learn Sustained Dialogue, a process that helps diverse groups build relationships & work together