Sustained Dialogues
Allegheny College fosters a vibrant and inclusive community through the engagement of its community in dialogues that promote strong relationships and foster respect for each individual and their ability to create positive change.
History of Sustained Dialogues from SD:
“Dialogue is a process of genuine interaction through which human beings listen to each other deeply enough to be changed by what they learn. Each makes a serious effort to take other’s concerns into their own picture, even when disagreement persists.
No participant gives up their identity, but each recognizes enough of the other’s valid human claims so that they will act differently toward the other.” –Dr. Harold Saunders, Founder of SDI
Sustained Dialogue® is a dialogue-to-action process that transforms relationships and creates community change.Sustained Dialogue® is rooted in the conflict resolution methodology of Dr. Hal Saunders, a senior U.S. diplomat involved in Middle East peace negotiations. Hal was a key drafter of the Camp David Peace Accords.
During Hal’s work in international negotiations, he observed patterns in how participants’ relationships evolved. He distilled those observations into two key concepts. Those key concepts provide the foundation for the Sustained Dialogue® process. The first concept is a set of replicable stages that groups move through as they address their conflicts. The second is a framework for analyzing challenges in group relationships.
These two concepts provide the foundation for the goals of the Sustained Dialogue® process which are:
Goal 1: transforming relationships among committed and willing participants
Goal 2: creating informed community change through collaborative action steps
In communities, dialogue organizers gather participants from diverse backgrounds into small groups. These groups meet regularly to build relationships and address issues affecting their communities.
For more information, please visit the Sustained Dialogue Institute.
To participate in a dialogue group or become a trained moderator, please contact abutcher@allegheny.edu
Activities
- Orientation Sessions with all First Year Class members – Designed to help new Gators adjust to having conversations in which they are present, activity listening, and learning to make space for others to speak up. Sessions last for 45 minutes and include an introductory understanding of how the dialogue process works.
- Pop Up Sessions – These 60-90 minute mini dialogues are designed to allow space for the campus community to come together and find common ground on topics of difference. Pop-Up Sessions will be held throughout the academic year, please watch Gator Hub for announcements. Past topics have included:
- Reflections on the 2025 Election
- Reflections on the 1st 90 days of after the 2025 Presidential Inauguration
- Belonging and Community
- Campus Dialogue on Community and Difference
- Wellness
- Black History Month
- Moderator Training: For those in the Allegheny Community that would like to help foster a community of change, free training is offered during the course of the year, either in person or online. Training is provided by the Sustained Dialogue Institute.
- Dialogue Series: A moderated conversation made up of various community members who are looking to bridge their differences and find common ground for change. Dialogue series are typically 10-12 sessions, moderated by a trained peer and should meet weekly or biweekly throughout the year.
