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

Join Professor Sherry Watt, Iris Peimann, and Gordon Louie of The Being Institute to explore how we can create educational communities that courageously face complex social challenges while fostering trust, collaboration, and dialogue. Together, we will take brave steps toward systemic change.

Last month, we explored how to teach in troubling times, naming and processing many of the challenges educators face today. This month, we’ll move from reflection to deep dialogue and action—exploring ways of being together that help us navigate difficult conversations, build trust, and create real change in our communities.

In this inspiring community meeting, we will:

• Practice “ways of being” to help us navigate conflict and change
• Explore how to foster greater trust and collaboration within our communities
• Learn how to move from difficult dialogue to thoughtful, humanizing action
• Discover practices and strategies to strengthen our communities and build systemic change

Why Attend?

• Develop skills to stay engaged in tough conversations rather than retreat from them
• Understand research-backed approaches to building trust and collaboration in divided communities
• Gain actionable tools to navigate differences and create meaningful change

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.