At the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, we believe every person and every interaction matters. That's why we're excited to introduce Empowered Conversations, a civil discourse program for first-year students, designed to fulfill the Husker Dialogues initiative.
Effective communication is at the heart of meaningful relationships. Empowered Conversations will equip students with the skills to navigate difficult topics and engage in civil discourse—skills highly sought after by employers and crucial for developing and maintaining successful relationships.
The first Empowered Conversations sessions will take place during the week of Sept. 16 in all JOMC 100: First Year Experience courses. Volunteer CoJMC faculty and staff members will lead small-group discussions following an informational video and real-world case study.
Kelli Boling, assistant professor of advertising and public relations and JOMC 222: Social Justice, Human Rights and the Media instructor and Alisa Smith, director of advising, collaborated on the Empowered Conversations structure and content.
"Our goal with Empowered Conversations is to cultivate a community where diverse perspectives are not only heard but valued,” Boling said. “By learning to engage respectfully with others, our students are better equipped to thrive in a world that requires empathy and understanding."
“The ability to have civil, productive conversations is essential,” Smith said. “Empowered Conversations gives our students the tools to approach difficult topics thoughtfully and to build stronger, more intentional relationships, both personally and professionally."
Through this program, first-year students will learn how to:
Cultivate curiosity about others perspectives
Prioritize respect in every interaction
Identify common ground and differences in discussions
Listen actively and effectively to better understand diverse viewpoints
Learn about different people and perspectives and broaden their understanding and empathy
Empowered Conversations is built on a foundation of mutual respect and dignity. As participants in this program, students will better understand their right to work in a harassment-free, hostility-free environment.
Expectations for all students, faculty and staff participating in the program are to:
Treat others with respect and dignity, even during heated disagreements
Come to each session fully prepared to listen, participate, learn, and contribute
Collaborate to create an environment that encourages active learning and respectful questioning
Integrate the insights gained from discussions into their courses and other areas of their lives
Following Empowered Conversations, students will be assigned two additional videos to review independently with corresponding discussion board assignments, providing an opportunity to reflect and engage with their peers.
Empowered Conversations will help students develop the communication skills needed to build meaningful connections and succeed in any field. The college is proud to contribute to building a more connected and understanding community at UNL.
