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Promoting Empathy, Understanding, and Inclusion through Dialogues across Difference

Event Recordings

On October 18, Professor Lara Schwartz of American University, author of Try to Love the Questions: From Debate to Dialogue in Classrooms and Life, kicked off this series with a virtual workshop on engaging in dialogue across difference in polarized times. Caltech community members can access a recording of the event here.

Description of the Series

The Dialogues across Difference workshop series will feature speakers, training activities, group discussions, and provide resources to increase our collective ability to engage in dialogues across difference. During the 2024-25 academic year, the CCID and other Caltech staff will organize and facilitate multiple events to achieve the following objectives:

  • Explore the history and importance of civil discourse in the university setting. Civil discourse is defined as "a nonviolent, democratic approach to problem-solving, in which competing points of view may be expressed, considered, and evaluated in an environment of mutual respect." (Landis, 2008)
  • Explore the relationship between academic freedom, the Institute's free speech policy, code of conduct, and community values;
  • Consider the differential impact that discussions of sensitive or controversial topics can have on members of our community as well as the implications for campus climate;
  • Understand the importance of engaging in critical self-reflection regarding our own identities, positionality, personal experiences, and potential biases;
  • Acquire strategies to develop empathy for other perspectives;
  • Encourage participants to challenge their assumptions, question their personal perspectives, and seek new understanding;
  • Learn to temper our own reactionary responses, to understand other viewpoints, and to challenge ideas--not people;
  • Recognize and address exclusionary language and actions that inflict harm on specific groups within our community;
  • Identify increasing degrees of disruptive behaviors and practice strategies to intervene when such disruptions occur.
Caltech's IDEA-focused programming, support structures, and campus organizations are open to anyone in the campus community, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual identity, and/or any other protected characteristic.