Community Conversations provide an opportunity for students to have a thoughtful discussion and dialogue about their shared values across generations and geography. Discussions are 45 to 60 minutes long and are an alternative to received wisdom (lectured or taught).

Community Conversations require participants to follow along with a preselected text about one of the following issues listed below. In order to provide an opportunity for students to join in a national dialogue, full participation in class discussion is expected, with the intent that each student offers their unique perspective to generate a deeper and more personal understanding of the ideas for the group in a contemporary context. Guided by prompt questions, we use group discussion to connect with the material beyond the scope of the class. The conversations serve as an intentional space for participating students to foster dialogue and develop personal stances on issues that affect them every day.

This program won an SEL Innovation Awards in 2019 and is sponsored in part by HumanitiesNY - funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Novo Foundation, Education First and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.