2024-2025 Summary

Students consistently described the Deliberation Dinners as a transformative experience that improved their ability to engage in civil discourse. A major theme was the development of stronger listening skills and greater open-mindedness. One student shared, “I don’t interrupt as much, I wait and actually listen,” while another reflected, “It helped me be a better listener, honestly.” Many described a shift from reacting quickly to taking time to understand others’ views: “It made me reflect more before responding,” and “It slowed me down, in a good way.” This shift also included deeper curiosity about differing perspectives. As one student put it, “I think I’m more curious now when people say something I disagree with,” and another added, “I started to try to understand why they think what they think.” These changes helped students move away from a need to “win” arguments. “Made me realize I don’t always need to be right, just to understand,” one student explained. Observers also noted student exchanges that indicated they were trying to listen and understand others’ viewpoints. For example, some of the student statements documented include: “Just to clarify, are you considering…;” “What I thought I heard you say…;” and “Can you elaborate…”

Respectful and calm dialogue was another key outcome. Students noted that they became less defensive and more intentional in how they communicated. “I think that I am less defensive about it now than I used to be,” said one, while another shared, “Even when I feel strongly, I try to express it gently.” Several students mentioned how tone and demeanor influenced the quality of their conversations: “Made me notice how much tone matters,” and “I try not to escalate anymore, I keep it low-key like we did in the dinners.” These skills didn’t stay confined to the dinner table. Students reported applying them in real-life settings: “I think these skills that I’ve learned have definitely carried into how I talk about politics with my friends,” and “I tried it at Thanksgiving dinner and it actually helped!” Others mentioned using techniques like paraphrasing and acknowledging before disagreeing: “Now I use that technique of paraphrasing what someone said before responding,” and “I remember the ‘acknowledge before disagreeing’ thing, it really works.”