DDNRC 2025 Conference
The Weight of Words: Navigating the Evolving Role of Dialogue During Polarized Times
EARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH MAY 1ST!
Come join us for our 2025 conference, The Weight of Words: Navigating the Evolving Role of Dialogue During Polarized Times from Monday June 30th- Wednesday July 2nd!
Hosted by Washington University in St. Louis located in St. Louis, Missouri!
This year’s 2025 DDNRC conference theme is The Weight of Words: Navigating the Evolving Role of Dialogue in Polarized Times
We are living in an age of increasing polarization and anger in our public discourse often reinforces hostile modes of interaction with people who hold different viewpoints. This polarization has impacted our ability to work within and between communities. Dialogues help deepen understanding of personal, group and intergroup relationship issues. Many people across the nation and world are wrestling with questions about how to engage with others who do not share the same values and/or identities and feel helpless around authentic engagement when we can’t even agree on basic facts for an informed dialogue. Further, many wrestle with how we can support respectful, transformative dialogue in face-to-face meetings, online contexts, and in physical and virtual classrooms.
Lodging
For discounted lodging rates and an easy walk to DDNRC conference events, please consider booking a room at Washington University’s historic Charles F. Knight Executive Education and Conference Center. The Knight Center is a four-minute walk from Washington University in St. Louis’ central campus and a fifteen-minute walk from St. Louis’ Forest Park.
Considering extending your stay? Call the Knight Center to receive additional discounted rates for evenings following the conclusion of the conference.
Scheduling & Itinerary
Check back in for live updates regarding specific workshop/presentation scheduling!
Working Itinerary:
Monday June 30th
12pm: Registration Opens
12:30pm-4:30pm: Pre-Conference Workshops
5pm-6:30pm: Conference Social for All Attendees
Tuesday July 1
8:30am-5:30pm: Workshops/Presentations
Wednesday July 2
9am-4:30pm: Workshops/Presentations
Arriving in St. Louis early? Check out our registration page for pre-conference workshop options!
Dialogue Facilitation Skill Building for Challenging Times:
Hosting difficult dialogues requires skilled facilitators to allow participants to be heard, address conflict, and create opportunities for greater understanding. During our challenging polarized times, these skills are even more essential. How do you support each participant wherever they may fall in their dialogue journey while doing your best to hold people accountable and prevent harm? This session will explore important concepts, like tracking group dynamics, balancing conflicting perspectives, and responding to critical events to build your capacity as a facilitator. 4 hours is a brief time to become a facilitator. Thus, this session is not an introductory facilitator workshop, but a booster shot and opportunity to build community with those looking to enhance their skills.
Using Dialogue in Professional Spaces:
Join this interactive pre-conference workshop designed to strengthen your dialogue skills and advance transformative change in higher education. Tailored for professionals committed to justice, equity, and sustainability, this session equips you with practical tools to navigate challenging conversations, foster collaboration, and create inclusive spaces. Together, we’ll explore how dialogue can be a powerful catalyst for meaningful institutional and societal impact.
