MSU Dialogues

MSU Dialogues is an intergroup dialogue program for students, faculty, and staff at Michigan State University. It is a learning experience that brings together people across different identity groups over a sustained period to: 

  • Understand our commonalities and differences 
  • Increase personal awareness and impact of our identities  
  • Examine the nature and impact of societal inequalities 
  • Explore ways of working together toward greater equity and justice for all
  • Prepare individuals to live, work, and lead in a complex, diverse society 

In MSU Dialogues, you will: 

  • Meet over the course of a semester for a series of sessions 
  • Dialogue with a group of peer participants and two peer facilitators 
  • Engage in meaningful activities that help deepen our understanding of ourselves and our communities
  • Develop skills for leading in a diverse environment and creating social change  

How to register

Undergraduates

MSU Dialogues will return in Fall 2024 for undergraduates

Employees

Registration will open in September

Employee cohort is open to graduate and doctoral students who are employees of MSU.

  MSU Dialogues: Be Part of the Change photo

 

Why participate in MSU Dialogues?

Past participants say...

"We each have our truths, which inform how we navigate the world, but those are not the only true experiences. Dialogues allows for the opportunity to find shared language for those truths and space to get to uncover some of the uncomfortable realities that come with them." —MSU Dialogues Graduate Intern

“Intercultural dialogue made me aware of huge gaps in my knowledge that I had as a result of growing up in a very segregated community. It not only taught me so much about myself and where I fit into society but also what I can do to help change society for the better.” —MSU Dialogues facilitator

“MSU Dialogues changed my life.” —MSU Dialogues participant

“We rarely take time for reflection of our own identity, biases, and/or ways to improve. If anything, this gives you the brave space to do this, confront them, and begin to grow. As a business student, understanding privilege, bias, and how you can interrupt them will be a critical way to make changes within the business world. This could span from breaking down bias and/or improving recruitment and development opportunities to include diversity initiatives.” —MSU Dialogues participant

“In my experience as an African American woman, race is so often talked about that it gets tiring. However, being in a race dialogue is a special place. You get to know more about your own identity and also learn about the identities of your peers.” —MSU Dialogues facilitator

If you have any questions, email MSU Dialogues Coordinator, Jade Richards at jader@msu.edu. 

 

MSU Dialogues offers course for credit

MSU Dialogues will be available as a 1-credit course in fall 2024 under UGS at the 200 level. Scheduled to open in October, this course offers students the chance to enhance their professional development and skill set. 

Learn more

FAQs

  • What are the benefits of participating in MSU Dialogues?
    • Build relationships across differences of race, gender, ethnicity, ability, class, nationality and additional identities
    • Develop life-long inclusive leadership skills to live and work in our diverse society
    • Learn about your own identities and the identities of your peers
    • Create positive change in our university and beyond!
    • Students: Put this experience on your My Spartan Story experience record
    • Faculty and staff: Strengthen your capacity to create inclusive, equitable learning environments inside and outside of the classroom
    • The research shows that Dialogues effectively meets our three primary goals:
      • Increasing personal awareness about identity
      • Building relationships across difference
      • Exploring ways of working together toward greater equity and justice
  • Why do we need dialogues at MSU?

    Our society feels more divided now than in previous decades. MSU Dialogues allow you to:

    • Learn how to talk to people who have different ideas than you do
    • Develop diversity and inclusion skills that employers are looking for 
    • Develop the ability to listen generously, to challenge previously held assumptions, and to treat one another with dignity, especially when the topic is uncomfortable
  • What are participants learning from MSU Dialogues?

    Participants say:

    "I have gained communication skills that allow me to talk about hard topics and interrupt bias as I hear it."

    "I realized how little interaction I have with people who are different from me. At the same time, I learned a lot about people are different from me. I also feel I am better able to discuss systems of privilege and oppression now."

    "This space provides a needed outlet for people of color and aspiring allies alike."

    "This is a transformative, self-reflective experience that helped me develop a greater sensitivity to the oppression that others may face due to their social identities."

     “As a person of color dialogue helped me learn how to be a better ally for others.  I honestly never thought about the work it takes to be a good ally.” 

  • How can I support MSU Dialogues financially?

    Donations will go directly to training facilitators, materials to run dialogues, stipends for facilitators, and awards for participants: DONATE TO MSU DIALOGUES

    What your donation supports:

    • $10,000 - a faculty or staff dialogue for 20 people for a semester
    • $7,500 - an undergraduate or graduate student dialogue for a semester
    • $6,500 - a facilitated film series for a year
    • $5,000 - a facilitator training for one semester
    • $2,500 - a faculty facilitator for one semester
    • $1,000 - one facilitator's stipend
    • $ 500 - cost of one student to participate
    • $ 250 - training of one facilitator
    • $ 100 - materials for each facilitator
    • $ 25 - supplies for one participant for an entire dialogue semester
  • Does MSU Dialogues facilitate workshops for groups on or off campus?

    Yes! Please fill out this registration form and we will be in touch shortly to schedule a time to meet with you and further discuss your group’s needs.

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