DE Dialogues for Future Leaders | SNF Ithaca Initiative | Biden School

DELAWARE DIALOGUES FOR FUTURE LEADERS

SNF Ithaca Initiative

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SNF Ithaca Initiative

snfithaca@udel.edu

302-831-4483

Delaware Dialogues for Future Leaders is an annual program hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative in partnership with the Delaware Center for Civics Education (DCCE) in the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) at the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. The program brings together students from Delaware public high schools to examine challenges facing today's political landscape and develop the skills needed to engage thoughtfully in civic life.

Students participate in facilitated break-out discussion sessions led by University of Delaware student facilitators. Together, participants discuss timely issues, practice civil discourse using shared discussion guidelines, and work collaboratively to explore practical solutions to challenges in their schools and communities.

Student speaking into a microphone at DE Dialogues

Students chatting around a table at DE Dialogues

Student writing on a poster at DE Dialogues

14

Delaware high schools represented

200+

Delaware high school students

2

Successful years (and counting)

Looking back at previous years

Over 100 high school students from across the state attended the Delaware Dialogues for Future Leaders at the University of Delaware.

Shaping Delaware’s future leaders through civic dialogue

It gave me a lot of hope to see that these kids actually want to talk about this stuff. It definitely opened my eyes to see that kids want to make change—they just don’t know where to start.
- River Spiece UD Student Facilitator

I think this is an important skill for anyone to have because people really struggle with having civil discourse and just being able to speak to each other in a humane and calm manner.
- Emily Spak UD Student Facilitator

Having spaces like this, where people can actually engage civilly and have discourse, is really important because their opinions matter and their voices are valuable.
- Sophie Douglas SNF Ithaca Student Leader