Human Connection
Strengthen innate capacities to connect with oneself and others in a way that foregrounds human complexity and deepens a sense of mutual responsibility with others in society.
Dimensions of Difference
Explore the multiplicity of human differences, their embeddedness in sociocultural and historical structures, and their consequences and opportunities for society, politics, and everyday life.
Intentional Communication
Analyze multiple and divergent perspectives; examine how assumptions and ideas develop and their impact on individuals and communities; and create knowledge together.
Collaborative Change
Identify social needs through critical inquiry of experiences and research; co-develop proactive strategies that advance the social good; and assess the impact of change efforts on individuals and systems.
Our Approach
At the heart of our approach are two interconnected commitments:
Pluralism
Pluralism recognizes that difference is a social and cultural fact, with consequences and opportunities for society, politics, and our everyday lives. CDP sees pluralism as an active and dialogic practice of engaging with all forms of human difference. This dialogic pluralism seeks to foster human connection and mutual understanding, co-develop nuanced knowledge about society, and motivate shared action to advance the social good.
Dialogue
Dialogue, as a communicative process, prioritizes mutual exploration of our ideas, values, and experiences. Grounded in curiosity and intellectual humility, CDP’s approach to dialogue emphasizes listening and sharing intentionally, acknowledging assumptions, and broadening perspectives. Dialogue often leads to new understandings and ways of thinking, especially when engaging with differences in viewpoint, background, and experience.
Our Work
The Center for Dialogue & Pluralism (CDP) strives to impact the entire Cornell community and to support its ever-evolving needs by building capacity through our pedagogical frameworks and resources, educational offerings, and research.
Pedagogical Frameworks and Resources
CDP’s pedagogical frameworks and resources help thread critical dialogue and pluralistic values into teaching and learning processes, advising and mentoring practices, and other educational contexts ranging from residential life to orientation for incoming faculty and students. To aid all those at Cornell wishing to engage in pluralistic dialogue, CDP provides a range of resources and support, including communication tools, facilitation materials, coaching practices, and content designed to facilitate growth in CDP’s development areas (human connection, dimensions of difference, intentional communication, and collaborative change).
Educational Offerings
CDP educators and scholars develop and lead scaffolded programs and courses for students, faculty, and staff, rooted in pluralistic practices for engagement about and across differences and dialogic processes that promote mutual understanding. These offerings focus on human connection, dimensions of difference, intentional communication, and collaborative change. Through both group and one-on-one consultation sessions, we develop curricula for use beyond CDP’s own offerings, customized to the unique needs of each group. Our model relies on small-group settings co-facilitated by trained peer facilitators who create an intimate environment in which participants are able to be curious, honest, and reflective.
Research
Our work is grounded in existing research that encompasses a range of topics, including intergroup contact, humans’ innate capacity for connection, and social change. We collect qualitative and quantitative data from students, staff, and faculty participating in CDP’s programming, and these data enable us to conduct our own program evaluation work, communicate with partners about successes and areas for growth, and contribute to existing scholarship about diversity education.