External Dialogue Resources
Programs and Networks
The following are bridging-related toolkits and resource guides from various nonprofit and educational organizations. They offer practical tools, frameworks, and learning materials that support respectful conversation, active listening, and constructive engagement in different contexts.
Courses and Toolkits
Books and Media
Programs and Networks
Fellowships, Leadership and Networks
BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences) Fellowship
Program Type: Fellowship
Description: BRAID is a recurring academic-year leadership fellowship for undergraduate students seeking to strengthen their interfaith and pluralism leadership. Fellows typically take part in retreats, virtual mentorship and training, and campus-based projects that build relationships and cooperation across religious, spiritual, and secular differences. Application dates, retreat locations, and cohort details may change each year. Refer to Interfaith America’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/grants/braid/
Intended Audience: Undergraduate students interested in dialogue, leadership, and interfaith engagement
Cost: Free
Best Contact: Interfaith America — nnakao@interfaithamerica.org
BridgeUSA Student Chapters
Program Type: Student Leadership Program
Description: Campus-based dialogue initiative that helps students engage across differences through conversations, trainings, and events. Refer to BridgeUSA’s website to read more.
Link: https://bridgeusa.org/
Intended Audience: Students interested in dialogue, civic engagement, and leadership
Cost: Free
Best Contact: BridgeUSA — chapterteam@bridgeusa.org
Campus Climate Initiative (CCI)
Program Type: Network
Description: Virtual talks and discussions focused on dialogue, critical thinking, belonging, and building stronger campus communities. Refer to Hillel International’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.hillel.org/campus-climate-initiative/
Intended Audience: Students, educators, and campus leaders
Cost: Free
Best Contact: Hillel International — cci@hillel.org
CIEL Experiential Learning Programs
Program Type: Experiential Learning Program
Description: CIEL designs recurring immersive travel and experiential learning programs in conflict-affected and post-conflict regions, including the Balkans, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.-Mexico border. Programs combine pre-trip education, field visits, meetings with scholars, policymakers, activists, survivors, and community leaders, and guided reflection on reconciliation, governance, migration, historical memory, and conflict resolution. Destinations, timing, length, and participant format vary by program. Refer to CIEL’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.cielglobal.org/experiential-learning
Intended Audience: Students, Educators, Community Members, Organizations, Private Groups
Cost: Paid; scholarships available
Best Contact: CIEL — contact@cielglobal.org
Citizen University Civic Leadership Programs
Program Type: Leadership Program
Description: Programs and trainings that help students develop civic leadership skills and strengthen communities through collaboration and dialogue. Refer to Citizen University’s website to read more.
Link: https://citizenuniversity.us/programs/civic-collaboratory/
Intended Audience: Students interested in leadership and civic engagement
Cost: Mostly Free
Best Contact: Citizen University — info@citizenuniversity.us
Interfaith America Learning & Action Bridge (LAB)
Program Type: Resource Hub/ Leadership Development
Description: Resource hub connecting students with trainings, courses, leadership programs, and bridge-building opportunities. Refer to Interfaith America’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/lab/
Intended Audience: Students interested in leadership, dialogue, and interfaith engagement
Cost: Free
Best Contact: Interfaith America — info@interfaithamerica.org
Courses, Trainings and Dialogue Programs
Braver Angels eCourses
Program Type: Online Course
Description: Self-paced online courses that teach skills related to dialogue, depolarization, bridge-building, and civic engagement. Refer to Braver Angels’ website to read more.
Link: https://braverangels.org/what-we-do/take-an-ecourse/
Intended Audience: Students interested in dialogue and leadership development
Cost: Free–Low Cost
Best Contact: Braver Angels — info@braverangels.org
Braver Angels Student Programs
Program Type: Workshop series
Description: Workshops, debates, and trainings designed to help students engage constructively across political differences. Refer to Braver Angels’ website to read more.
Link: https://braverangels.org/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=5512
Intended Audience: Students interested in democracy, dialogue, and leadership
Cost: Free–Low Cost
Best Contact: Braver Angels / College Debates & Discourse — info@collegediscourse.org
Constructive Dialogue Institute Trainings & Workshops
Program Type: Workshop/ Training
Description: Workshops and trainings that help students build skills in communication, listening, and leading respectful discussions across differences. Refer to Constructive Dialogue Institute’s website to read more.
Link: https://constructivedialogue.org/
Intended Audience: Students interested in dialogue, facilitation, leadership, and civic engagement
Cost: Varies
Best Contact: Constructive Dialogue Institute — info@constructivedialogue.org
Essential Partners Dialogue Workshops
Program Type: Workshop/ Facilitation Training
Description: Trainings that teach students how to facilitate respectful conversations and navigate difficult topics through dialogue. Refer to Essential Partners’ website to read more.
Link: https://whatisessential.org/workshops
Intended Audience: Students interested in leadership, facilitation, and constructive communication
Cost: Paid; partial/full scholarships available
Best Contact: Essential Partners — info@whatisessential.org
Living Room Conversations
Program Type: Dialogue Program/ Conversation Training
Description: Conversation guides, trainings, and learning opportunities that help students engage respectfully across differences. Refer to Living Room Conversations’ website to read more.
Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/
Intended Audience: Students interested in facilitation and community-building
Cost: Free
Best Contact: Living Room Conversations — contact@livingroomconversations.org
Conferences and Summits
Facing Race Conference
Program Type: Conference
Description: Facing Race is Race Forward’s biennial (every two years) national conference for racial justice organizers, activists, artists, educators, and movement leaders. The gathering offers workshops, plenaries, cultural programming, resources, and collaboration opportunities designed to strengthen racial-equity strategies across movements and communities. The host city changes with each conference. Refer to Facing Race’s website to read more.
Link: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/
Intended Audience: Students interested in civic engagement and community leadership
Cost: Paid; scholarships available
Best Contact: Race Forward / Facing Race — facingrace@raceforward.org
Interfaith Leadership Summit
Program Type: Leadership Summit / Conference
Description: Recurring national gathering where students and educators build interfaith leadership and bridge-building skills through training tracks, workshops, discussions, and relationship-building across religious and worldview differences. Refer to Interfaith America’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.interfaithamerica.org/events/interfaith-leadership-summit/
Intended Audience: Students, educators, and campus leaders interested in interfaith leadership and pluralism
Cost: Paid; limited lodging scholarships available
Best Contact: Interfaith America — summit@interfaithamerica.org
National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD)
Program Type: Conferences / Trainings
Description: Conferences, trainings, and networking opportunities focused on dialogue, facilitation, collaboration, and community engagement. Refer to NCDD’s website to read more.
Link: https://www.ncdd.org/events.html
Intended Audience: Students interested in dialogue, leadership, and facilitation
Cost: Free–Varies
Best Contact: National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation — keiva@ncdd.org
Othering & Belonging Institute Conferences & Learning Programs
Program Type: Conference/ Learning Opportunity
Description: The Othering & Belonging Institute hosts periodic conferences and related learning opportunities that bring together researchers, organizers, artists, educators, policymakers, and other practitioners. Programming focuses on belonging, democracy, bridging across difference, inclusive institutions, and strategies for social change through workshops, cultural experiences, and relationship-building. Timing, location, and format vary by convening. Refer to the Othering & Belonging Institute’s website to read more.
Link: https://belonging.berkeley.edu/conference
Intended Audience:
Cost: Paid; scholarship available
Best Contact: Othering & Belonging Institute — obconf@berkeley.edu
Dialogue Across Difference Initiative
1500 Public Affairs Building
337 Charles E Young Dr E
Los Angeles, CA 90095