University campuses are feeling the effects of rising polarization, anger, and people acting on ideologies motivated by fear. While the university should be a place of collegial disagreement as part of the pursuit of knowledge, there are numerous signs on and off campus indicating inability to explore problems together when there is disagreement. There are currently few opportunities to explore controversial and polarizing issues productively on campus. Similarly, there are limited opportunities for dialogue among those grappling with direct impacts of harm and injury from marginalization and oppression, and those experiencing isolation or struggling to find a sense of belonging. Dialogue on desired futures across disciplinary silos can activate the power of imagination, anchoring conversations in critical hope. 

Given this context, the pilot project paired dialogue with community-based research to design, conduct, and evaluate multiple forms of dialogue on the University of Waterloo campus. Informed by research, the dialogues took on arts-based and narrative approaches, engaging faculty, students, or other on-campus groups. The pilot phase of the project ranfor approximately 18 months and focused on dialogue that fosters constructive engagement across difference. The pilot served as a steppingstone for a more broad-based and transformative approach to dialogue on campus. 

The project was led by Dr. Reina Neufeldt, Chair and Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo. In partnership with Dr. Neufeldt’s research team, CCBRsupported the research design, implementation, analysis, and reporting as a consultant, coach, and team member. The research methods were selected and designed alongside the dialogue, living out of a developmental approach to research.