What does Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center do?

The center helps educators and community leaders develop skills and programs needed to facilitate productive conversations on controversial issues. It provides facilitator training, curriculum resources, and consultation services that help institutions create safe spaces for discussing difficult topics including race, religion, politics, and social issues.

How does the center support educators?

The organization trains facilitators in techniques for guiding productive discussions on controversial topics, provides curriculum materials and frameworks for teaching dialogue skills, and consults with institutions developing programs for addressing challenging subjects. This comprehensive support helps educators create effective difficult dialogue initiatives.

Who uses center resources?

Educators teaching controversial topics, community leaders facilitating public discussions, and institutions developing programs for addressing difficult issues utilize center resources. Schools, colleges, and organizations seeking to create safe spaces for productive conversations on challenging subjects benefit from training and consultation.

How can institutions engage with the center?

Schools and organizations can access facilitator training programs, utilize curriculum resources for teaching dialogue skills, and receive consultation on creating safe spaces for difficult conversations. The center provides comprehensive support for institutions wanting to address controversial issues productively.

The Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center

Helps educators facilitate productive conversations on controversial issues

Primary audience

Educators

Work area

Dialogue Facilitation

Topic

Controversial Issues

Website Contact

About Organization

The Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center provides training, curriculum resources, and consultation services that help institutions create safe spaces for discussing difficult topics including race, religion, politics, and social issues. The organization helps educators and community leaders develop skills and programs needed to facilitate productive conversations on controversial subjects.

What They Focus On

Facilitator Development

Trains educators and community leaders in skills needed to guide productive conversations on controversial issues.

Curriculum Support

Provides resources helping institutions teach difficult dialogue skills for discussing race, religion, politics, and social issues.

Institutional Capacity

Helps schools and organizations create safe spaces and effective programs for addressing challenging topics.

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

01

Skills Training

Teaches educators facilitation techniques for guiding productive conversations on controversial topics.
02

Resource Provision

Provides curriculum materials and frameworks institutions can use to teach dialogue skills.
03

Institutional Support

Consults with schools and organizations developing programs for discussing difficult subjects.
04

Safe Space Creation

Helps institutions establish environments where challenging conversations can occur productively.

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by The Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center

Facilitator Training

Prepares educators and leaders to guide productive discussions on controversial topics in educational settings.

Institutional Consultation

Advises schools and organizations on creating safe spaces for discussing challenging topics.

Program Development

Helps institutions design initiatives enabling productive conversations on race, religion, politics, and social issues.

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind The Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center.

Team information not available.

Milestones

2005

Center Established

2005

Founded to support educators facilitating conversations on controversial issues in education.

2010

Resource Expansion

2010

Developed comprehensive curriculum materials for teaching difficult dialogue skills.

2018

Consultation Services

2018

Expanded institutional support helping schools create safe spaces for challenging discussions.

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

Kelly E. Maxwell Chair, Board Of Directors

John Vasquez Vice-Chair, Board Of Directors

Sam Anderson (he/him/his) Treasurer

Kathleen Wong(Lau) Secretary

Manda Wittebort (prefer none) Director of Public Engagement, Southwestern University

Libby Roderick Director, Difficult Dialogues Initiative, Associate Director, Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence, University of Alaska Anchorage

Rob Brown Director of Learning and Organizational Strategy, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University

Brighid Dwyer Ajunwa Vice Dean for Academic Excellence & Engagement, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania

Alecia Wartowski Executive Director of Foundation 65, Founder and Principal of Flip Turn Consulting

Jennifer L. Ball Chief Inclusion Officer, Title VI, IX, ADA/504 Coordinator, Assoc. Professor HU/SS, Clarkson University

Amber PaloSanto Director, Stouffer College House, College Houses and Academic Services & Pre-Major Advisor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania