As the signature event of the Dialogue Across Difference Program, Dinner & Dialogue brings together students, seminarians, staff, faculty, and others from the University community for a shared meal and structured dialogue in an informal, fun setting. Dinner & Dialogue sets out to foster conversations about what we hold dear while building a more inclusive culture of robust dialogue at Sewanee.
Thirty participants from across campus attended our November 2022 launch, which took up the question: How do we cultivate belonging together at Sewanee? In Spring 2023, Dinner & Dialogue events focused on our university values: Community, Inquiry, Flourishing, and Courage. Community input from this four-part series contributed to ongoing values activation work. Across these four events, 187 participants gathered, including 95 students, 45 staff, 20 faculty, 16 seminarians, and 11 other university community members (including emeritus faculty and AmeriCorps service members). A network of 19 student and seminarian dialogue facilitators were trained to lead these conversations, including six residents of the Community Engagement House.
Dinner & Dialogue provided opportunities for rich discussions and engagement, specifically around our University values and how we foster belonging at Sewanee. When discussing belonging, participants underscored connection, openness, reciprocity, and listening. For participants, belonging necessities spaces that foster mutual understanding, welcome authenticity, and support personal reflection. When talking about our University value of Community, participants highlighted the foundational role of relationships at the University, and the ways in which inclusion, respect, and compassion and care for others are enacted through this value. Conversations around Inquiry focused on the importance of asking curious questions and holding space for multiple perspectives in ways that support learning. Participants’ discussions of Flourishing reiterated the importance of supporting one another in growth and attending to the needs of others. Finally, conversations around Courage noted that everyone has the potential to take risks while recognizing that being courageous is a vulnerable act.
Participants’ feedback reflected the distinct opportunities Dinner & Dialogue events provide for having meaningful conversations with individuals they might not otherwise meet. As one participant wrote, “I felt that I was able to dialogue with people at my table that had diverse experiences from me, and we were able to have a deeper understanding of one another’s experiences and perspectives because of the excellent efforts of the facilitator.” Another participant shared, “I met new folks, and we had a lovely and lively conversation. We were able to ask questions and ponder in a safe and constructive space. New friends were made!” Through dialogue, students, seminarians, and colleagues actively engaged, listened to one another, explored different perspectives, and learned from each other’s experiences. In these ways, participants not only engaged in conversations about Sewanee’s values, they enacted those values in the process.
Dinner & Dialogue was generously supported by: All Saints' Chapel; Center for Leadership; Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Offices of Campus Activities and the Dean of Students. As a parameter of attendance, participants were asked that "whoever comes must come with someone who is not like them." Participants were creative in inviting others with diverse backgrounds, roles, and experiences to accompany them, which contributed to even more conversations across differences.
