Building Community
Through Conversation
The Dialogue and Difference Project engages George Mason students, faculty, staff, and the Northern Virginia community in dialogues to listen and converse across complex or controversial social and political issues. Sustained and meaningful dialogue is necessary to address issues of difference and to promote the creation of a just and multicultural campus community.
Dialogue is “Meaning Flowing Through”
The word Dialogue comes from the Greek dialogos. Dia means “through” or “with each other”, and logos means “the word” or “the meaning.” Thus, dialogue translates to the “meaning flowing through.”
A dialogue seeks to create a quality of conversation that allows for the transformation of interpersonal relations and may lead to new and shared understanding of complex or controversial societal issues.
What is Dialogue and Difference?
George Mason University is one of the most diverse campuses in the country. Thus it offers unique opportunities for students to explore new perspectives and cultures and develop skills to negotiate an increasingly multicultural world.
The Dialogue and Difference Project at George Mason sponsors a series of dialogues that promote structured conversations. This process fosters shifts in both emotion and perception — for example, moving from fear to understanding, extreme to balanced views, and partisan attachments to shared concerns for the future.
The program is coordinated through the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and University Life, and offers a variety of dialogue related events, training and coursework each semester.
Participation in the program is open to all members of the Mason community (students, faculty and staff).
Project Director: Patricia Maulden
Email Address: pmaulden@gmu.edu, dialogue@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
4400 University Drive, MS 2E5
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
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