We were disappointed not to make it into the Top 20 but we would still like to pilot our approach. If we raise $2,500 we will still be able to run a some summer workshops for teens. We would aim for at least one multi-week dialogue group and a "Ask the Right Question" workshop. We have built relationships with community groups who are willing to help make this happen and we hope we receive additional support. Our training time would be donated and funds would go toward materials, food, transportation reimbursement, recruiting costs, and student intern stipends.

We are beginning to get contributions through the widget and that is exciting. Our target number -- $50,000 -- reflects a three year budget and is inclusive of the amounts we hope to obtain through the Case Foundation's Make-It-Your-Own grant process. We would like to independently raise $10,000 to $15,000 through individual contributions which is the amount needed for either a comprehensive first year pilot or the add-ons we would like to make in the second year.
How do funds break down for the pilot? First my time and other consultant time for designing the project and facilitating the pilot dialogues will be donated. We are projecting $3,000 in payments to student interns and administrative costs associated with developing discussion guides and coordinating the dialogue groups. $2,520 is our estimate for what would be used in recruiting low income and other hard to reach segments of the community and this includes funds for bus or fuel reimbursement as needed. $2,000 would be allocated to legal and accounting fees; $1,800 for paper, pens and food used by the dialogue groups; $400 for printing costs; $80 for postage; and $200 for an annual subscription to Survey Monkey which will allow us to use on-line evaluations and also create public surveys. Additional summer workshops could be added for $1,000 for a half day program. Additional funds would also allow for training of additional facilitators which would allow for more dialogue groups. Funds not used in the first year would support expansion of the program in the second and third years. An independent accounting firm will track all revenues and costs, and this accounting will be available to donors, as will summaries of program evaluations. We hope you can help!

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Dewey emphasized the role of education in equipping each generation to be “the guardians of their own liberties”. As a society, we need to be more intentional about that education, which can be informal – obtained through service learning and opportunities to listen and learn from each others (that is, transmitted from citizen to citizen). That education also, however, needs to build the literacy and critical thinking skills that have been identified as essential for 21st century citizenship by numerous organizations, including the Minority Student Achievement Network: (“. . . life in the 21st century United States will demand that its inhabitants be flexible thinkers and expert communicators”) and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (Jan. 10, 2007 report on 21st century skills). The open discussions that characterize dialogue move well beyond debate on positions and instead allow citizens to share and directly learn from each other's experiences and perspectives. Effective dialogue promotes development of both the communication and critical thinking skills needed for effective citizenship. It also builds relationships. Because the process provides a more organic than linear interaction with community issues and needs, it has a greater potential for reaching a diverse set of individuals. This interaction – which has the potential to change how and with whom we interact with outside of the dialogue process – can lead to more rapid and natural culture change than approaches that target a specific issue or need.

We are very excited to be in the Case 100 and have the opportunity to promote our intergenerational dialogues! Strong communities require strong connections between youth and adults, and among all the diverse segments within the community. Yet many people feel disconnected. Our intergenerational dialogues will involve all segments of the community are designed to help people connect. Seniors and youth are a natural pairing for dialogues on community and citizenship. Youth are looking for meaning, purpose, and opportunities to develop and use skills; seniors have experience to share, and are looking for legacies and opportunities to stay connected as the world rapidly changes. Yet there are few places in our communities where youth can informally engage with the older generations outside of their families. Those teens that have intergenerational relationships, particularly relationships that help them connect with community networks and organizations, have an easier time learning, growing, and becoming involved. Those who do not can become better connected to the community through dialogue. As an example, this summer I hosted, with the juvenile office, a set of “movie dialogues” for a small group of teens who were under court supervision. Evaluations filled out by the teens indicated that the dialogues contributed to greater awareness of how they communicated with themselves and others, and encouraged critical thought about the film. Interviews with some of the participants after the program confirmed that the teens wanted to be heard, felt that they were heard in the dialogue process, and thought additional dialogues would be worthwhile. Dialogues that engage youth and build intergenerational relationships have the power to improve not just our community here in Columbia, but our national community as well. We will be posting more about our project, so be sure to check back in!