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?

…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

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

• 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 FacilitatorsDeveloping - 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

3. Practice Facilitating an Intergroup Dialogue on Specific Topics

4. Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building…Dialogue Co-facilitation

Training Facilitators Stage 1Getting to Know One Another. Who Are We and What is Intergroup Dialogue?

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 FacilitatorsStage 1 (cont.)

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

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 3Practice 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 co-facilitations 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 4Teamwork, Alliances and Coalition Building….Dialogue Co-facilitation

Being an ally Teamwork, alliances and coalition-building

Training FacilitatorsAssessing 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

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

Beginning Retreat– 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

Coaching groups– 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

Observations– Coaches observe dialogues for content and

process issues

Consultations– 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 RelationsUniversity of Michigan

Monita C. Thompson, Co-Director

Kelly E. Maxwell, Ph.D., Associate Director

Contacting us:

monitact@umich.edu

kmax@umich.edu

www.igr.umich.edu