The Dialogue Symposium: Bringing College and Communities Together

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:06:37 -0500
communityengagement, dialogue, inclusiveexcellence, socialjustice

Dialogue connects. Dialogue transforms. Join educators and practitioners across Maryland for an interactive symposium on advancing dialogue for belonging, community, and shared action.

We're pleased to invite students, faculty, staff, and community partners to the Dialogue Symposium: Bringing Campuses and Communities Together, hosted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). This symposium is collaboratively planned by USM partner institutions - University of Maryland-Baltimore, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland Global Campus, Towson University, and The Universities at Shady Grove.

SAVE THE DATE: January 29, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: University Center Ballroom, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250

About the Symposium:

This full-day event is dedicated to advancing dialogue as a powerful approach for connection, inclusion, and collective action. Grounded in the work of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center, this year's theme — "Dialogue as a Campus and Community Approach" — explores how institutions and community organizations can embed dialogic practices across curricular, co-curricular, and administrative spaces.

What You'll Experience:

Interactive sessions and hands-on workshops exploring facilitation, trauma-informed practices, and community connection.

Peer-led exchanges and an "Unconference" segment where participants co-create ideas and partnerships in real time.

A focus on tools for embedding dialogue into teaching, learning, engagement, and community collaboration.

Who Should Attend:

Whether you are faculty integrating dialogue into your courses, staff facilitating community or campus engagement, a student leader leading coalition building, or a community partner working across neighborhoods and beyond — this symposium is for you.

Want to Present?

The committee invites proposals from students, staff, faculty, and community partners. We invite proposals that will:

Build strategies for institutional leadership and resource alignment to sustain dialogue programs and initiatives.

Deepen facilitation and practitioner skills (with attention to trauma-informed practices & facilitator well-being).

Explore concrete tools and techniques for integrating dialogue into classrooms, curricula, departments and community engagement.

Co-create new directions for dialogue work that connects campuses and communities across the region.

Submit your proposal here: https: //umbc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b2fZiJ2jngIFWES

Registration & Next Steps:

Student attendance is free; other categories have nominal fees as outlined on the CSJD website: https://csjdialogue.umbc.edu/the-dialogue-symposium-bringing-colleges-and-communities-together/

Registration opens December 1, 2025.

Keep an eye out for the full program and registration link soon.

For questions, contact Chloe Kastner (ml82770@umbc.edu).

Join us in shaping a day of thoughtful connection, courageous conversation, and collective reflection as we build toward a more dialogue-rich, inclusive campus and community culture.

We look forward to seeing you on January 29!