20,000 Dialogues Introduction and Orientation

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20,000 Dialogues Introduction and Orientation
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What is 20,000 Dialogues? Who is UPF?

• 20,000 Dialogues A Grassroots Film and
  Interfaith dialogue approach to building
  understanding.
• Unity Productions Foundation Organization that
  promotes peace through the media.

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Goals and Purpose

• To build understanding of Muslims and Islam in
  the context of interfaith dialogue.
• To show a measurable increase in understanding
  through deliberate conversations, evaluations,
  and relationships developed.
• To present the idea of film and dialogue to the
  interfaith movement as an effective model for
  building greater understanding.

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Vision and Impact

• Build understanding and community across America
  through the use of film and dialogue.
• Embrace the collective We the People of
  America.
• Person-to-person interaction.
• Be a catalyst for constructive conversation.

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How it Works
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Why Youre Here Dialogue Party

• Whats That?
• 5 partners, public event, flexible model, event
  in a box.
• 2. Facilitated dialogue in small groups.
• 3. Evaluate the experience before and after.

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Films Available for Dialogue

• Invite a 20,000 Dialogues speaker to your
  Dialogue Party.
• Use 20,000 Dialogues kit for Dialogue Party.

Cities of Light The Rise and Fall of Islamic
Spain
Muhammad Legacy of a Prophet
Prince Among Slaves
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New Films
Connect with the 20,000 Dialogues outreach team
to get resources!
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Supporters and Endorsements
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Questions?

• Next Section What is Dialogue? How do I host
  one?

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In a Context

• Media feeds the misperception of the other
• Leads to an emotional reaction
• Nearly half of all Americans -- 46 -- have a
  negative view of Islam.
• 1 in 3 Americans have heard prejudiced comments
  about Muslims lately.
• Media is cited as biggest influence on
  respondents attitudes.

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Dialogue. Change?

• Change what?
• Dialogue has the potential to shift peoples
  misperceptions and broaden world views.
• Dialogue is meant to be transformative.
• To engage in dialogue, participants must be open
  to the potential for change.
• Facilitator can be the catalyst for change.
• Facilitator must be interested, engaged and
  neutral.

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Hosting a Dialogue

• Role of the host/facilitator
• To create a safe and respectful environment.
• To facilitate and guide the discussion.
• To aid and excite the group in developing common
  ground and take-aways.

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Approach to Dialogue

• Watching the films present alternative images,
  stories.
• Dialogues connect, change and challenge
  stereotypes counters backlash
• The films inform, educate.

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Why Stories?

• Personalize
• Humanize
• Empathize

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Top 5 Tips for Dialogue

• Use I statements, avoid speaking for a group
  I think, I believe, my experience has been vs.
  All Muslims feel this way
• 2. Avoid spokesperson syndrome. No one person
  the authority or expert.

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Top 5 Tips for Dialogue (continued)

• 3. Recognize that diversity exists within each
  group.
• 4. Give everyone a chance to speak. (NOSTUESO).
• 5. Pay attention to physical and emotional needs
  of groups.

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Questions?

• Next Section Facilitating Dialogue

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As the Host/Facilitator

• What is my role as a 20KD facilitator?
• Youre a volunteer, not a certified facilitator.
  
• 2. Can be individual or dual facilitated.
• 3. Collaborate with a peer, preferably of another
  faith or culture.

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What is my role as a 20KD facilitator? Continued

• 3. You embrace even the contrarian views.
• 4. You are not responsible to change people, your
  role is to guide the discussion.
• 5. You are not an authority on the subject
  material.

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Preparing for the Dialogue

• Do I need to watch the film before the dialogue?
  
• We strongly encourage you to watch the film
  before your dialogue.
• Review icebreakers, discussion guide, print out
  any and all material that you may need.

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Top 5 factors for Effective Dialogue

• Food
• Setting
• Diversity
• Sense of purpose and sincerity
• Timing

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6 Areas of Understanding

• Who are Muslims
• Cooperation/violence
• Tolerance/intolerance
• Respect/disrespect for women
• Commonality/difference
• Contribution/lack of contribution

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Questions?

• Next Section Hosting the Dialogue

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Running the Dialogue

• Step 1 The introduction introduce oneself
• Step 2 Introduce 20,000 Dialogues Describe
  20KD
• Step 3 Evaluations mention the importance of
  evaluating our experience
• Hand out the pre-dialogue evaluations!

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Running the Dialogue Contd

• Step 4 Have people introduce themselves
  Encourage a fast-paced energetic round of
  introductions.
• Optional use icebreakers!

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Using the Discussion Guide

• Designed to be used piecemeal.
• Select questions before you host the dialogue.
• 2. Give people minimum of 5 minutes to discuss
  each question.

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Using the Discussion Guide (continued)

• 3. Announce 1 minute prior to next question.
• 4. Elicit large group sharing, reflection and
  dont forget to discuss take-aways, commitments.

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Concluding your Dialogue

• Thank everyone for being there
• Summarize action and next steps
• Discuss challenges
• Options for ongoing action
• Pass out the post dialogue evaluations!

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Why Evaluate

• Help us improve the experience to maximize the
  impact.
• Help us to get a sense of how your individual
  understanding and knowledge base may have
  changed.
• To find out if this was meaningful to the group.

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Questions?

• Next Section Logistics and Outreach

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Logistics

• Once location is secured, focus on advertising,
  publicity, etc.
• 20,000 Dialogues provides
• flier templates
• Power Point for opening of dialogue
• Discussion guides for dialogue
• Logistical assistance
• Evaluation packet

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Key Logistical Points

• AV
• Food
• Speakers
• Funding

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Civic Partnerships

• Dialogue Party Goals
• 1. Build a diverse coalition of 5 groups to
  partner with your screening.
• 2. Facilitate the dialogue in small groups.
• 3. Evaluate the dialogue.

• Types of organizations
• Faith-based
• Business
• Service
• Community groups and centers
• Film and Arts Groups
• Academic
• Government
• Civil rights
• Non profit
• Social justice

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Thank You and Now for Questions!