Civic Democracy Leadership Initiative

Explore your civic leadership

There are many ways to engage with community - and VT Engage is a great place to building these connections. We want to help you develop your voice as a community member and leader, and help you participate in democratic processes.

Whether that's voting in local or national elections, attending town council meetings, joining a civic group, or something else, join us!

One of the first skills Civic Leaders must continually practice and grow is having conversations across difference. Virginia Tech has teamed up with the Constructive Dialogue Institute to provide their Perspectives program for all Virgina Tech students, faculty, and staff which uses constructive dialogue as a framework for having these conversations. Constructive dialogues are a form of conversation where people with different perspectives try to understand each other – without giving up their own beliefs – in order to work together.

What is Perspectives?

Through self-paced micro-lessons and twice-monthly small-group discussions, Perspectives will help you:

• Explore how our fast thinking isn't always our best thinking.
• Uncover the roots of our ideological differences.
• Cultivate intellectual humility.
• Welcome diverse perspectives.
• Appreciate other worldviews.
• Manage emotions in conflict.
• Master difficult conversations.

Help build a community where listening and understanding happen naturally, on-campus and beyond!

Questions? Please contact Jes Davis, Associate Director at jesdavis@vt.edu or 540-231-6947. Jes can assist in thinking implementing Perspectives in classrooms, co-curricular programs, or other spaces that fit your needs.