Diversity Circles
Diversity Circles overview
Diversity Circles are small group dialogues that engage participants in conversation about critical social issues. The goal is to involve everyone in the dialogue to share knowledge and experiences and to build understanding and create solutions.
When you sign up for a Diversity Circle, you are responsible for attending all four sessions. Please note the different time frame for the Action Forum. Lunch will be provided for the Action Forums. All sessions will be held at the Pyle Center. There is a limit of 15 participants for each Diversity Circle.
Circle I: Diversity Circles on Racism
- Fridays, April 4, 11, and 25: 12:30pm - 4:30pm
- Friday, May 2: 10am - 2pm
Action Forum, where we will decide on future action steps.
Diversity Circles on Racism include: sharing our own experiences with racism; identifying our ethnic backgrounds; exploring inequalities in our communities; discussing why inequities exist; exploring action steps that can be taken.
Circle II: Diversity Circles on Poverty
- Fridays, April 4, 11, and 25: 8am - Noon
- Friday, May 2: 10am - 2pm
Action Forum, where we will decide on future action steps.
Diversity Circles on Poverty include: discovering how poverty affects our communities; exploring what poverty looks like in our communities; examining why poverty exists; discussing ways to reduce poverty; exploring actions steps that can be taken.
Registration and Contacts
To register, please fill out this form and follow all necessary instructions. For information about registration, contact Cathy Debevec at cathy.debevec@uwex.edu, or 608-262-0277.
More Information
Roseann Mason, who has facilitated Diversity Circles since 1999, will be facilitating the dialogues. This dialogue model could potentially be used with citizens in our communities throughout the state. Further opportunities to become facilitators will be offered. Information about Diversity Circles can be found at the Study Circles Resource Center. For information about this program, contact Roseann Mason at roseann.mason@uwp.edu, or 262-595-2606.
The registration fee is funded by a grant from the UW System Institute on Race and Ethnicity, and the lunch at the Action Forum will be provided by the Office of Workforce Equity and Diversity. Participants are responsible for their own transportation costs.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to further our efforts to build a multicultural organization.
Comments from Past Participants
“Invaluable...you've somehow managed to provide a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for participants to contribute. Thank you for offering this very important opportunity for personal and professional growth.”
“I was in the poverty study circle and found it very interesting. As I said in our group at the beginning, "poverty has no race or color, and it can happen to anyone at any time." I think we need to educate people more on the resources that are out there.”
“With the expertise of the facilitators, backed by the study circle resources on poverty, I gained both facilitation ideas and facts that I can put into action in my communities to tackle poverty issues. When you're with the group you will ‘stretch your mind’ and the process will force you to make time to think about all the information and ideas that are freely shared in this learning arena.”