Holiday gatherings often expose long-standing family tensions, but Essential Partners—an organization rooted in family therapy and public dialogue—offers strategies to foster more meaningful conversations across deep differences. Their Reflective Structured Dialogue approach encourages people to clarify their goals, seek personal stories behind political views, speak from their own experience, allow silence to slow reactive patterns, and trust their instincts about when to engage or step away. While these practices won’t resolve conflicts overnight, they can gradually transform divisive moments into opportunities for curiosity, dignity, and connection.

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is proud to feature the Reflective Practice & SRI® International Certificate Program, a seven-session virtual professional development opportunity running from January 28 through July 22, 2026. Designed for mediators, Ombuds, peacebuilders, and dialogue professionals, the program provides a structured, collaborative space for deep reflection on practice. Guided by Dr. Tzofnat Peleg-Baker and Dr. Bryan Hanson, EdD, participants explore the Structured Reflection Intervention (SRI®) framework to strengthen self-awareness, refine interventions, and deepen professional mastery. Limited to 15 participants, the program fosters connection within the Community of Reflective Practitioners (CoRP)—a global network supporting continued growth and cross-cultural learning. Early registration by November 30, 2025, offers a 20% discount, with additional savings for colleagues who enroll together. This program embodies NCDD’s mission to advance dialogue, learning, and excellence among those bridging divides in complex social and organizational conflicts.

In a moment of crisis following a nearby campus shooting, University of Utah professor Natasha Seegert turned to resources from Essential Partners, a Cambridge-based nonprofit that equips educators and facilitators to lead meaningful conversations on difficult issues. Using their structured dialogue questions, Seegert transformed her class into a space for reflection and connection, helping students process emotions and engage across differences. This story illustrates Essential Partners’ broader mission to strengthen communities and democratic practice by providing accessible, ready-to-use tools for dialogue on divisive topics such as race, violence, and partisanship—demonstrating that dialogue skills are not luxuries but essential capacities for navigating times of tension and change.

​A six-month internship (October 2025–March 2026) with peace practitioner Fleur Ravensbergen offers students and recent graduates rare hands-on experience in conflict resolution, combining training design, research, online education, and communications work. Ravensbergen brings over 15 years of global field experience—from armed conflict negotiations to corporate mediation—providing interns with exposure to both international peace processes and community-level dialogue. The role includes creating real-case role-play simulations, supporting negotiation and career-entry courses, conducting conflict research, and contributing to outreach through podcasts and digital platforms. With remote flexibility, occasional meetings in the Netherlands, and a modest stipend, this internship bridges academic learning and professional practice, offering comprehensive preparation for careers in peacebuilding and dialogue facilitation.

​NCDD board member Dr. Larry Schooler shares powerful insights on transforming workplace conflict into opportunities for organizational growth and stronger community. Drawing from his extensive experience as a mediator, academic, and former journalist, Dr. Schooler reframes conflict not as something to avoid but as a vital signal for necessary change and deeper engagement. He highlights the importance of authentic leadership rooted in empathy and accountability, which builds trust and enables productive dialogue. Looking to the future, Dr. Schooler sees technology, including AI, as a helpful tool to support—but not replace—the human connection essential to effective conflict resolution. His approach aligns closely with NCDD’s mission to foster understanding and democratic participation by turning tension into collaborative growth. Read more in the blog post below.

Middlebury's Conflict Transformation Initiative enters a new chapter with Professor Netta Avineri as executive director. Building on a foundation laid by Professor Sarah Stroup, Dr. Avineri brings expertise in linguistic anthropology and intercultural competence to guide the initiative’s next phase. The program emphasizes viewing conflict as an opportunity for growth, integrating experiential learning, cultural analysis, and global partnerships. With a strong infrastructure already in place, the initiative aims to deepen its impact across Middlebury and beyond. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Friend, Dr. Timothy Shaffer’s recent presentation at Chaminade University offers a timely and transformative rethinking of civil discourse. Rather than reducing civility to mere politeness, Shaffer introduces a nuanced framework distinguishing between weak, strong, and pseudo civility—encouraging dialogue practitioners to embrace passionate, democratic engagement, even when it includes protest or confrontation. Addressing the deeper emotional divides of affective polarization, he outlines practical strategies like intellectual humility, principled advocacy, and the use of informal “third spaces” to bridge ideological gaps. Shaffer’s message is clear: each of us holds agency to foster stronger civic culture amid division. Read more in the blog post below.

​A dynamic partnership between NCDD Member, Middlebury College’s Conflict Transformation Collaborative (CT Collaborative) and Burlington-based nuwave Equity Corporation is demonstrating how dialogue practices can lead to meaningful workplace culture change. By combining Middlebury’s academic expertise with nuwave’s innovative equity work, the collaboration equips organizations with tools to foster inclusive, high-performing environments. Centered on core conflict transformation skills—like active listening and curiosity—the initiative exemplifies the impact of cross-sector collaboration. Soon, new training videos and multimedia resources will make these strategies more accessible and scalable. Read more in the blog post below.

​The Sustained Dialogue Institute (SDI), a valued Member Organization of the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD), offers a powerful methodology for addressing conflict and building stronger communities. With global reach, SDI’s approach fosters deeper understanding and long-term transformation across diverse settings. Read the blog post below to learn more.

​The Community Relations Service (CRS), a vital conflict-resolution agency established under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, is at risk of elimination. This essential service helps communities address tensions, supports fair housing initiatives, and facilitates mediation in times of crisis. With a public response deadline of April 2, 2025, immediate action is needed to advocate for its continuation. Contact your Congressional representatives today to voice your support and help preserve this bipartisan pillar of peace and dialogue. Read more in the blog post below.