Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center Biennial Conference - 2027
Building Hope & Resilience: The Role of Dialogue in Higher Education
In a time of deep polarization, rapid change, and growing uncertainty, dialogue is not a luxury–it is essential.
Pre-conference: Monday, May 24, 2027
Conference: Tuesday & Wednesday, May 25 & 26, 2027
Location: University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI.
The 2027 Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center Conference, Building Hope & Resilience: The Role of Dialogue in Higher Education, brings together college educators, students, scholars, and campus leaders to explore how dialogue can strengthen both individuals and institutions. As conversations about civil discourse intensify and communities navigate political division, mental health challenges, technological shifts, and social transformation, this conference centers dialogue as a vital practice for fostering belonging, supporting well-being, and cultivating democratic engagement. Through skill-building workshops, research presentations, and storytelling, participants will explore how dialogue builds trust, addresses trauma and harm, resists silencing, and nurtures solidarity rooted in our common humanity. Join us as we deepen our collective capacity to create learning environments and communities where dialogue sparks courage, connection, hope, and resilience.
Call for Proposals Now Open!
In a time of deep polarization, rapid change, and growing uncertainty, dialogue is not a luxury. It is essential. We’re bringing together college educators, students, scholars, and campus leaders to explore how dialogue can strengthen individuals and institutions, foster belonging and well-being, build trust across differences, and cultivate democratic engagement. We invite proposals that share research, practices, stories, tools, and experiences related to: • Dialogue Across Differences in Polarized Times • Dialogue, Well-Being & Healing • Power, Voice & Inclusive Participation • Practical Tools, Models & Research • Sustaining Hope & Resilience for Practitioners and Communities Whether you’re sharing a research finding, facilitating a skill-building workshop, offering a model others can adapt, or telling a story from your practice, we want to hear from you. Submit your proposal by December 18, 2026.
Learn more and submit your proposal here.
We hope you’ll join us in building a conference that sparks courage, connection, hope, and resilience.