On January 13 & 14, NCCE trained the 1st cohort of NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors. The Ambassadors and mentors engaged in a day and a half of immersive training in dialogue and civil discourse. The NC Student Dialogue Ambassadors program, developed by North Carolina Campus Engagement, and launched in Fall 2022, seeks to mobilize a trained cohort of student leaders who are passionate about dialogue and civil discourse. The Dialogue Ambassadors will facilitate 4-5 dialogues on their campus during the 2023 spring semester. These dialogues will help students practice and build the skills to engage in the open exchange of ideas with people who think differently and to find common ground for action on the major public challenges we face as a state and nation.
The 2022-23 pilot schools are Alamance Community College, Elon University, NC Central University, and UNC Pembroke. Each participating school selected two Dialogue Ambassadors committed to developing leadership skills, bridging divides, and strengthening democracy. Upon completion of their term as an Ambassador, they will receive a stipend. The Ambassadors and Mentors received training in four formal dialogue methods: National Issues Forum deliberative dialogue, Civil Dialogue (developed by Arizona State University); Braver Discussions (developed by the Braver Angels Alliance of Central North Carolina), and Living Room Conversations.
Each participating campus receives an activity fund and ongoing support to plan and host the dialogues. A designated staff or faculty mentor provides guidance and support to the Ambassadors.
“We live in a time of increasing polarization and division,” said Leslie Garvin, NCCE Executive Director. “At the same time, there are major challenges threatening to dismantle our communities and world. More than ever we need young leaders with the ability to build bridges and to deliberate together to develop solutions and take action.”
As part of their NC Collegiate Civics Project, NC Campus Engagement received a two-year grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation to launch the Dialogue Ambassadors program.
2023 Student Dialogue Ambassadors and Mentors
|
Alamance Community College Ambassadors:
Mentor: Darian Rader, PACE Success Coach |
 |
|
Elon University Ambassadors:
Mentor: Andrew Moffa, Assistant Director, Kernodle Center for Civic Life |
 |
|
NC Central University Ambassador: JaKarrie Miller (pictured bottom left) Mentor: Calleen Herbert, Director, Office of Community Engagement and Service (pictured top right)
|
 |
|
UNC Pembroke Ambassors:
Mentor: Sam Hauser, Associate Director for Inclusive Education
|
|
