The Civic Discourse Incubator trains the next generation of public leaders for political engagement.
The initiative focuses on teaching skills for constructive dialogue, listening to opposing views, facilitating conversations as a civic leader, mediation and conflict resolution.
Dialogue Across Difference Training
On Sunday, February 23, The Patman Center hosted 41 undergraduate and graduate students from across the University and three other schools including Texas A&M, Huston-Tillotson, and Texas State, for a day learning how to listen to opposing viewpoints.
In the morning, we had Dr. Becca North, a psychologist and trained policy professional, talk to the students about the theories behind what makes dialogue across difference successful. In the afternoon, we had public engagement and dispute resolution expert, Dr. Larry Schooler, train the students on the skills needed to facilitate dialogue across difference as a civic leader. Participants earned a badge of completion that they could add to their LinkedIn or their resume/CV. The students walked away with key skills and knowledge about how to listen to those you disagree with and how to have successful dialogue despite differences in opinions.
About our instructors...
Becca North - Becca North is a researcher, teacher and writer in the field of psychology. Her research is in the area of happiness and well-being—and more broadly, human flourishing. A big question in her research is: How can negative experiences foster positive psychological change? She has an interdisciplinary background—with a Ph.D. in Psychology from The University of Texas, a Master’s in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and an AB in History from Princeton University. She has taught at several colleges and universities, including Southwestern University, The University of Texas, and Huston-Tillotson University. After graduating from college, she taught first grade in Compton, California, for three years as a corps member of Teach For America. Becca grew up in North Carolina and Texas and currently live in Austin, Texas.
Dr. Schooler’s research interests include restorative and transitional justice, truth and reconciliation commissions, dialogue and deliberation, mediation, and public participation in public policymaking. He is the author of a forthcoming book on North American truth and reconciliation commissions and a manual on facilitating public meetings. Outside of teaching, Dr. Schooler is a senior director at the conflict resolution consulting firm Kearns & West. Dr. Schooler has been married to Jolie (Spergel) Schooler since 2008, and they are the proud parents of two sons, Sammy and Robby.
Explore results of the Dialogue Across Difference training!
Civic Discourse Events
The LBJ School has partnered with the Civitas Institute at the School of Civic Leadership, Braver Angels- Central TX, BridgeTexas, Atidna, and the College of Liberal Arts to host several "Civic Discourse Events".
The purpose is to teach students how to explore uncomfortable ideological and policy differences in a way that broadens their understanding of opposing views and the possible uncertainties they have for their own arguments. For these events, students discussed the viability of a two-state solution versus one-state solution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, as well as "Should TikTok be banned in the U.S.?"
The Patman Center is excited to support this display of civic leadership!