Students and faculty from the Barry University School of Social Work recently visited the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute on the campus of the University of Michigan for an annual workshop on Intergroup Relations (IGR). School of Social Work faculty member Mitch Rosenwald, PhD, was joined by students Mayra Martinez, BSW ‘15 and Samantha Brea, BSW ’15.
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute’s annual workshop brings groups from historically different backgrounds (women and men; Christian and Jewish; lesbian/gay and heterosexual; immigrant and native-born) together into a facilitated, structured conversation about privilege and oppression and the impact they have had on participants' lives. The goal of intergroup dialogues is to foster increased communication and reduce prejudice among groups.
The purpose of the group’s trip was to experience instruction in facilitating intergroup dialogue and to brainstorm ideas about bringing the model to Barry. Beginning in the fall 2014, under the auspices of The Tracks Project, the School of Social Work, the Department of Sociology and Criminology, and the Division of Student Affairs will co-sponsor intergroup dialogues for students and identify students, staff, and faculty who are interested in participating in "train the trainer" dialogues. The ultimate goal is to have multiple dialogues occurring on campus each semester and eventually integrating them with the surrounding community.
The three participants from the School of Social work were joined by Laura Finley, PhD, from the Department of Sociology and Criminology.
Visit the group’s website for more information about the National Intergroup Dialogue Institute.