Intergroup Dialogues

Abstract

This article reports on intergroup dialogues, an innovative pedagogical method to address cultural diversity and social justice issues in social work curricula. Intergroup dialogues—facilitated face-to-face meetings of students from different social identity groups—are aimed at exploring cultural identities and differences, fostering deeper understanding about issues of oppression and privilege, and building alliances for social change. Intergroup dialogue can also serve as a foundation to prepare social workers for culturally competent and social justice-oriented practice. Results from a formative evaluation are included together with suggestions for social work programs interested in incorporating intergroup dialogues into their curricula.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Biren A. Nagda

The project reported here was funded by a Council on Social Work Education Millennium Project grant and the University of Washington School of Social Work. The authors would like to acknowledge the collegial support of Ray Bending, Moya Duplica, Nancy Hooyman, and John Longres.