How Can I become a Facilitator?

Intergroup dialogue facilitators are trained undergraduate students who lead a group of peers through a semester of intergroup dialogue. Facilitators are trained in dialogic communication, group building, conflict surfacing and de-escalation, and social justice education. They work in pairs to facilitate dialogue, not simply as teachers, but also as learners with dialogue participants.

Anyone can apply to become a facilitator. The most important requirement is a commitment to 2 semesters, the first for the training course and the second for facilitation.  Facilitators can remain a part of the project as long as they would like and as they receive the approval of the project coordinators.

The position is a great leadership opportunity for future professionals, educators, and activists. Facilitation and dialogue skills can be applied in any meeting or group setting, one-on-one conversations, and even structural and institutional analyses. The experience is eye opening at the very least and often transformative.

Benefits, Expectations and Roles
All Intergroup Project facilitators are selected to participate in a dialogue training course which will enhance their own knowledge base of social justice issues, group process and dialogue facilitation skills, cross cultural communication, presentation and community building skills.

Time commitment
Individuals selected for the intergroup dialogue project class will be committing to approximately 4.5 hours a week of in-class and course prep time for the fall semester. The course will be two and a half hours per week and reading and assignment prep should take no more than two hours.

Class Time
The course will be held during the fall semester will be held Wednesdays, 4-6:30 pm starting September 23rd. The time and location is still being decided. Additionally, there will be one “long day” (one additional Saturday training day) from 9-5 which the group will decide the date for.

In order to ensure that dialogue groups are truly intergroup dialogues (i.e. that they include members who identify with a variety of races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and socio-economic backgrounds), it is vital that we gather as much information as possible about the social identity groups with which you identify. We ask that you complete the facilitator's questionnaire. Please complete this form by Friday, September 18 and call Andrea Emmershy at ext. 2550 to schedule an interview with Tanya (Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs). While all information is voluntary, please supply as much of the following information as you feel comfortable sharing.