Effective Dialogue Across Resources

Welcome to the Effective Dialogue Across Difference (EDAD) Resource page. Over the past two years, Tshombé Brown and Anne Santiago have been working to develop a model of engagement across difference that draws on the expertise of longstanding experts in the fields of conflict management and constructive dialogue while also honoring the unique character and mission of UP. EDAD is that model. More information on the model is in the EDAD Teacher Guide linked below. We welcome your comments and questions (santiago@up.edu).

   EDAD Teacher Guide

   Fall 2026 Events

Activities for the Classroom

Constructive Dialogue Institute is a non-partisan non-profit that equips individuals and institutions with the skills to communicate across differences and build cultures of constructive dialogue. Their Perspectives program is free for classroom use and focuses on helping students understand what is going on in one's brain in disagreeable discussions while also giving students skills to practice for better dialogue across difference.

   To view the CDI Activities click here. 

Braver Angels is an organization dedicated to non-partisan debate on challenging issues. It's toolkit provides guidance on teaching students how to better craft their ideas and present them without attacking those they disagree with.

   To view the Braver Angels Curricular Toolkit click here. 

Additional guides come from Teach Democracy and TESOL. Both living and thriving in a democracy and working across languages and cultures require learning how to understand those with different ideas, beliefs, cultures, and experience. Both organizations focus on teaching tolerance.

  View the Teach Democracy Discussion Formats and TESOL Learning from Conflict. 

The Limits of Dialogue

Dialogue is not for every situation, but it is an effective tool in many classrooms. One thing that dialogue requires is building a relationship with others and learning to respect them even when disagreeing vehemently with their ideas. We highly recommend the work of Loretta J. Ross to better understand "Calling In." She often runs online workshops to learn her techniques. They are very affordable!
The short Moral Tolerance Limits guide gives some guidance on what you can do when confronted by not just different opinions, but ones that are morally repugnant.