Inclusive and Restorative Dialogues
Tufts University, founded in 1852, was envisioned as a “light on a hill” (Pax et Lux - Peace and Light). In seeking to understand and demonstrate ‘peace and light,’ faculty, staff, and students at Tufts work together to illuminate each other and the world. Dialogue encourages communities to move toward ‘peace and light’ by considering what these words mean in action, perhaps especially in a diverse and polarized world. Dialogic practices at Tufts create pathways for understanding and connection between community members, even when differences of opinion and lived experiences remain.
Dialogue has many purposes and every person is encouraged to think critically about its impact. It is appropriate to consider several approaches and think critically about the purpose of engaging in dialogue. Dialogue can help us:
- Deepen understanding of each others' experiences and views
- Center groups that have been historically marginalized
- Prepare a group to address a common problem
- Broaden the range of ideas of a topic under consideration
- Counter negative stereotypes
- Build trust as a precondition for critical inquiry and debate
- Motivate participants to work for change
Resources
The concept and practice of dialogue has existed at Tufts University for decades. The following toolkit is part of a larger institutional strategy to create pathways for understanding and connection between community members, even when differences of opinion and lived experiences remain. In the toolkit, you will find an overview of dialogue at Tufts, including definitions, frameworks, and resources, to help you identify opportunities to engage with these practices in our community.
Programs
In the Spring of 2024, the University launched an initiative called Tufts Talks Openly to open our lines of communication in the spirit of dialogic practice. Our expanded dialogic programs offer community members opportunities to engage in learning across differences in order to create a more inclusive university.
For All Students
The Tufts Inclusive Education Series is a workshop and dialogue series designed to equip students with the knowledge and tools needed to mitigate various forms of bias. These educational workshops offer a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of discrimination while learning practical steps to advocate for positive change. The following are the goals for the educational workshops:
- Provide introductory education sessions on the history of bias related to specific identities.
- Provide actionable steps students can take to mitigate behaviors rooted in bias on campus.
- Provide context for how all forms of hate are interconnected and intersectional.
- Encourage students to bring a greater sense of curiosity and empathy to their interpersonal relationships on campus.
This series is only an entry point for continued work in community with one another. To that end, following each workshop, our office will hold a dialogue opportunity for students who engaged with the session to process what was learned and build understanding of their peers’ lived experiences related to the session. In this time, students will be in dialogue with their peers who may hold different perspectives. These spaces will be structured, focused, and led by staff and/or faculty with experience facilitating dialogue across differences. This series will continue beyond this academic year to address additional forms of bias.
Click on each session title below to register. Participation in the workshop portion is required if interested in attending the respective dialogue session.
Session 1: “Tools and Strategies for Addressing Antisemitism”
- Workshop: August 30, 2:30-3:45 p.m.
- Dialogue: September 4, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Session 2: "Tools and Strategies for Addressing Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Muslim Bias"
- Workshop: Sep 16, 12:00-1:15 p.m.
- Dialogue: Sep 18, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Session 3: “Tools and Strategies for Addressing Racial Inequity”
- Workshop: October 25, 2:30-3:45 p.m.
- Dialogue: October 28, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
For Faculty, Staff, and Students Tufts Table is a community dinner that is free and open to students, faculty, and staff from across all four campuses (Boston, Grafton, Medford/Somerville, and SMFA). Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence in collaboration with faculty, staff and student leaders across our four campuses, Tufts Table provides community members, who might not otherwise cross paths, with the opportunity to make connections and share perspectives on a variety of subjects impacting our community. These subjects include: exploring our intersectional identities, finding a sense of belonging at Tufts, and creating a more inclusive community. Please contact diversity@tufts.edu with any questions about this event. Stay tuned for upcoming dates this academic year (2024-2025)!
For Staff and Faculty
Let's Talk About Race: Exploring White Privilege addresses the experience of those who have experienced white racial privilege and who would like to find support in understanding how to practice anti-racism in their daily lives. Anti-racism is an active and ongoing process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices, and attitudes in a way that redistributes power and creates more equitable policies and structures. This foundational program is for Tufts faculty and staff and runs for eight weeks (90 minutes each week on Zoom).
For more details and a link to register, visit the Let’s Talk About Race Fall 2024 guidelines. Please email diversity@tufts.edu with any questions.