Presidential Initiative on Constructive Dialogue
The Presidential Initiative on Constructive Dialogue focuses on how the Pitzer community and beyond can talk constructively about challenging issues.
The initiative's organizing committee is dedicated to fostering a culture of open and constructive dialogue, based on the following initial goals and objectives:
- Facilitate Constructive Conversations: Organize events and workshops to enhance communication skills, active listening, and empathy. Create brave spaces for open discussions on sensitive topics.
- Promote Inclusivity: Develop programs that embrace diversity and inclusivity, securing effective participation from students, faculty, and staff.
- Collaborate Across the College: Partner with field groups, student organizations, and administrative areas to integrate new dialogue initiatives with existing programs. Collaborate with faculty to incorporate elements into curricula.
- Assess and Get Feedback: Establish a system for ongoing assessment and feedback to measure the impact of the Initiative. Regularly review and adapt programs based on findings.
- Build on Success: Develop a communications strategy to raise awareness about the importance of constructive dialogue on campus and of the Initiative itself. Showcase success stories and positive outcomes resulting from individual programs and the Initiative as a whole.
Read more about the Initiative in President Thacker’s message to the Pitzer Community
Past Events
Inside-Out as a Model for Constructive Dialogue
A panel discussion featuring Pitzer faculty, staff, and students involved with the Inside-Out Pathway to B.A. program took place on April 22, 2024 in Benson Auditorium.
Screening & Discussion: The Barber of Little Rock
A special screening of the 2024 Academy Award-nominated short film, The Barber of Little Rock, was followed by a discussion with co-director John Hoffman and the titular barber himself, Arlo Washington. This event was co-sponsored by the Melvin L. Oliver Racial Justice Initiative.
How Do We Talk about Israel and Palestine?
President Strom C. Thacker moderated a conversation between Salam Al-Marayati and Daniel Sokatch, who have collaborated at other events on dialogue about Palestine and Israel.
Anna Malaika Tubbs: “The Three Mothers”
Tubbs discussed her work with Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Jan Barker Alexander and Bee Joyner ’24, who asked Tubbs about how she told American history through Black women’s eyes. Their talk was the first installment of Pitzer’s Presidential Constructive Dialogues Initiative and was co-sponsored by the Melvin L. Oliver Racial Justice Initiative.