Micro-Seminar: Dialogue through Difference: How to listen to understand, and share to be heard PART ONE

Micro-Seminars have two parts. Attendance to both parts is required. Registering for the PART ONE session will automatically enroll you in the PART TWO session on Friday.

Part 1: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm (PST)
Part 2: Friday, August 23, 2024 from 10:00 – 11:30 am (PST)

There are so many things that divide us. Yet, what is most important, is finding a way to come together to solve the problems of the day. If we are to solve any important problems together, we must learn how to listen to different perspectives, and learn how to share our own so that we can be heard. It is important that we care deeply about the global and local challenges that we face, but intense emotions can make it difficult to find common ground and solve problems collaboratively, and inclusively.

Any student who wants to learn how to be heard and how to listen to understand, should consider this micro-seminar. Students will first learn about what truly matters to them so they can understand why they care so deeply. Then, students will learn how to listen to what truly matters to others and why. Students will learn how to lead important conversations inclusively, and learn strategies that will allow them to make space for voices that contribute to change.

Day 1: What matters to you? Knowing who you are and what matters is the first step in learning how you will respond to different situations and conversations.

Day 2: How to listen, how to share, and how to lead important conversations. Students will learn about the difference between what a conversation is about and HOW a conversation happens effectively. Students will learn conversational skills that will generalize to any area of life.

This is type of experiential learning opportunity about how to have crucial dialogues effectively has never been more important, and has ever been offered at USC before.

Lead By:

Professor Quade French

Quade French, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, and serves as an Associate Dean in Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, and is an adjunct assistant professor in the Rossier School of Education. His areas of expertise include DEIB, interpersonal relationships and group dynamics, organizational culture, and wellbeing. He takes an equity-minded approach to his work, which is also informed by his psychological training to better understand individuals and groups at the intersections of their identities.

Professor Kamy Akhavan

Kamy Akhavan is the Executive Director of the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future. He teaches courses on nonprofit leadership, political research, interpersonal skills, and bridging divides. He is also the former CEO of ProCon.org. With over 20 years of experience, his work on political polarization, nonprofit leadership, civics education, and political discourse has reached over 300 million people. He has been interviewed and published in major outlets, such as the Washington Post, Reuters, Associated Press, Fox News, ABC, NPR, CNN, and CBS. Read more about Kamy at https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future/about-the-center/staff/kamy-akhavan-executive-director.

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