Interactivity Foundation Announces Training Teams for Fifth Year of Collaborative Discussion Coach Trainings

​The Interactivity Foundation marks five years of Collaborative Discussion Coach Trainings with summer 2026 sessions (June 1–5, July 13–17), having certified 200+ coaches who’ve awarded 1,000+ certificates and reached 5,000+ toolkit users. New grants (apply by May 15, 2026) fund fully covered in-person or online cohort trainings (10–20 participants) running July 31, 2026–August 31, 2027, including facilitation, materials, and certification. Participants build facilitation skills, earn credentials, and join a growing community of practice—expanding inclusive dialogue across classrooms, communities, and workplaces.

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The Interactivity Foundation has announced experienced training teams for its Collaborative Discussion Coach Training summer sessions (June 1-5 and July 13-17, 2026, 12:00-3:00 PM Eastern online via Zoom), marking the fifth year anniversary of CDP Coach Trainings with significant milestones including over 200 certified coaches in the community, coaches having awarded over 1,000 certificates in collaborative discussion, and the free toolkit reaching over 5,000 unique users with growing, evolving curriculum contributed by educators and civic practitioners. The organization has launched grants for in-person or online cohort trainings this spring, representing a unique opportunity to bring the training team to communities with applications closing April 26, 2026, and trainings to be conducted between July 31, 2026, and August 31, 2027. The Interactivity Foundation has certified over 200 collaborative discussion coaches from across the country and abroad, with the cohort training award providing opportunity to train cohorts of coaches from specific organizations or communities, where selected awardees will partner with IF team to host 15-hour Coach Training for cohort of 10-20 committed participants equipping them to confidently use and teach collaborative discussion curriculum in classrooms, communities, and workplaces.

The Interactivity Foundation covers training-related costs, including training team and facilitation (including travel and lodging), training materials and curriculum, certification and badging, and participant registration fees, with highly interactive training featuring small-group engagement, hands-on practice, and individualized support deliverable in-person (1.5 days) or virtually (3 hours daily for 5 days). Upon successful completion, cohort participants will understand key collaborative discussion concepts and how they support democratic, inclusive inquiry; apply the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit with confidence including intentional activity design and facilitation strategies; practice facilitating core activities with structured debriefs on method and purpose; access coach-only resources such as assessment tools, templates, and facilitation supports; receive post-training consultations and invitations to workshops extending learning post-certification; earn formal recognition through certification and digital badges for facilitating collaborative discussion; and join expanding community of practice of educators, civic professionals, and dialogue practitioners—with certified coaches also equipped to design and deliver their own certificate programs in collaborative discussion, expanding opportunities for others to develop these skills in their own local contexts.

The organization welcomes applications from faculty, staff, or administrators in higher education or K-12; staff or leadership in community-based organizations and nonprofits; staff or leadership in civic, cultural, or professional organizations; staff or leadership in workplaces and professional development units; and student leaders on campuses or in communities—with applicants required to recruit and confirm cohort of at least 10 participants committed to full training, schedule training between July 31, 2026 and August 31, 2027, provide appropriate training space if in-person, and appoint coordinator to work with IF team on logistics and participant support. Proposals will be evaluated on alignment with IF's mission and values, clarity and feasibility of training setting, detailed cohort recruitment strategy, and potential for meaningful impact and ongoing use of collaborative discussion practices, with five fully funded cohort trainings available and applications reviewed on rolling basis with a full consideration deadline updated to Friday, May 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. The organization is excited to continue growing a community of Collaborative Discussion Coaches and looks forward to seeing participants at upcoming trainings, with questions directed to Jes Friedrichs at [email protected].

Register: June 1-5 or July 13-17, 2026, Coach Training at interactivityfoundation.org/events

Apply: Cohort Training Grant by May 15, 2026 at interactivityfoundation.org
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Contact: Jes Friedrichs at [email protected]