Sustained Dialogue (SD)
The Sustained Dialogue (SD) is a five-stage, evidence-based process designed by former U.S. diplomat Dr. Harold Saunders, drawing on his work negotiating ethnic and border conflicts, including the Camp David Peace Accords, and published in texts such as A Public Peace Process: Sustained Dialogue to Transform Racial and Ethnic Conflicts.
The SD process is designed, organized, and led by everyday people who want an alternative to intergroup divides. A group of willing participants meets regularly for 7 to 12 sessions, moving through five stages to build relationships and come to action in entrenched conflicts.
- Deciding to Engage
- Mapping and Naming
- Probing Problems and Relationships
- Scenario Building
- Individual and Collective Action
This civic peace process centers on bringing together in systematic dialogue--not negotiation--individuals from conflicting groups to probe the dynamics of their conflictual relationship, to think together about obstacles to changing it, and to design a sequence of interactive steps that might remove those obstacles.
Now active on more than 125 U.S. campuses and in workplaces, government agencies, hospitals, and communities, SD groups have gone on to run for office together, launch joint podcasts, change housing lotteries, and build entirely new organizations across lines of difference. For students in particular, the research shows that participating in or moderating an SD group builds empathy, strengthens civic behaviors, develops leadership, and creates belonging, skills, and relationships that carry well beyond campus life. Learn more about the network at sustaineddialogue.org.
The SD program and training are sponsored by the Office for Campus Enrichment and Engagement, and the Division of Student Affairs.
Upcoming CWRU Sustained Dialogue: Leading Productive Community Conversations Workshop
Are you interested in leading dialogue circles on topics where our campus community feels divided or stuck? Want to become an SD Moderator? Join the next training series to:
- Learn more about Sustained Dialogue and how to create conditions for dialogue;
- Practice the art of dialogue before joining a group; and
- Learn skills to help facilitate important conversations in the classroom, within offices, and or organizations.
The training is free for all CWRU students, faculty, and staff, made possible through the support of the Office for Campus Enrichment and Engagement and the Division of Student Affairs.
Those who complete all sessions of the workshop series will be invited to co-facilitate dialogue initiatives at CWRU. Certificate of completion awarded to all participants who finish the training. Please email ocee@case.edu for any questions!
The Sustained Dialogue Institute will host trainings. These trainings are public workshops provided by the Sustained Dialogue Institute. These trainings are open to participants from campuses and communities beyond CWRU.
Facilitation Training: Leading Productive Community Conversations (Summer Training)
Training will take place virtually June 24–26, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day.
For this workshop, you will need to use a special discount code to register for free. To use the code, please type in the code during check out as "add a coupon". The discount code is: FREE4SDCNDEEPMEMBER (and it is case-sensitive).
Register for Summer Training Here
Those with questions can contact Elena Martinez Torrez at Sustained Dialogue at elena@sustaineddialogue.org.