How can we stay in difficult dialogue while working toward systemic change?

In this community meeting, we explored how we can create educational communities that courageously face complex social challenges while fostering trust, collaboration, and dialogue with Sherry Watt, Iris Peimann, and Gordon Louie of The Being Institute. Together, we explored the “ways of being” that help us navigate conflict and change and developed skills to stay engaged in tough conversations rather than retreat from them.

About Sherry K. Watt

Sherry K. Watt has been a professor in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at the University of Iowa since 2000. She is an educator trained in the areas of counseling, psychology, and human development. Prior to becoming a faculty member, she worked as a residence life director and a career counselor at both of her alma maters and Shaw University. Sherry is a facilitator prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal. She is the co-editor The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities across Difference (May 2022). She has over 30 years of experience in, researching, designing and leading educational experiences that involve strategies to engage participants in dialogue that is meaningful, passionate, and self-awakening. Dr. Watt and her research team are working together on research and practice that support ‘ways of being’ in difficult dialogues that inspires thoughtful and humanizing action.

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