Conversation Cubed, The Frenemies Project, The Civility Project, Frenemies Day
Multiple initiatives at Virginia Tech with a common commitment to helping communities have more civil discourse as they seek to repair and maintain relationships, discuss and seek consensus on policy issues, and find ways to healthily coexist.
“I’m not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that’s a buzz kill. There’s got to be a better code of conduct, some basic etiquette.” – Mos Def
Good conversations are multidimensional in nature. Conversation Cubed is an opportunity to hone your skills in effective communication. This program explores the importance of emotions, intuition, data, power, and lived experience in dialogue. The program provides a forum for the exploration of issues that matter.
use of data, power, and importance of emotions, intuition, and lived experience in dialogue. Conversation Cubed provides a forum for the exploration of issues that matter.
We currently have no in-person Conversation Cubed events scheduled. Please try our online Civil Discourse 101 module.
Please stay tuned for future events.
We encourage you to check out our new, web-based Civil Discourse 101 program.
Otherwise, please stay tuned for more information on upcoming events and opportunities for engagement!
What do we do?
The #CivilityVT initiative (or Civility Project at Virginia Tech) is exploring ways in which facilitated dialogue among individuals that hold strong opposing positions can foster mutual understanding, increase empathy, and ultimately support healthier deliberations as communities seek to make decisions around important policy questions. We are particularly focused on the use of active listening techniques to facilitate civil discourse.
While civil discourse rarely changes participants’ interests, values, or priorities, our work suggests that it can foster mutual understanding and lead to ‘small wins’ on policy questions that matter to us.
We continue to build upon the legacy of this project with ongoing training and events for the Virginia Tech community and beyond. Our virtual and in-person sessions facilitate engaging yet safe environments for people to participate in authentic, meaningful, and civil discourse.
We have help.
The Civility Project has received generous support from VT’s Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT) through a SEAD Major grant, Division of Student Affairs, and School of Public and International Affairs.