Shaffer followed with opening remarks highlighting the role communities play in addressing polarization and division. He encouraged students to view public policy as a product of people working together and to engage in discussions with respect for differing perspectives.

Deliberation in breakout sessions

After the opening session, students moved into eight breakout rooms for the first of two facilitated dialogue sessions. They discussed political education and the negative impact of toxic talk. Each group was led by a UD student facilitator who guided participants using shared ground rules for civil discourse and accountable talk guidelines. Students practiced active listening, considered multiple perspectives and supported their ideas with reasoning.

Emily Spak, a UD student facilitator and first-year student majoring in civic leadership and policy studies, said she was encouraged by how quickly students began engaging with one another.

“My goal as a facilitator is to mediate a bit and probe with questions, but the dream is for them to keep it rolling by themselves,” Spak said. “Once they started going, they really started going at it, and that made me really happy.”

Spak added that she hopes students leave the conference more open to perspectives different from their own. 

“They don’t have to totally switch political affiliations, but just to be a little more open-minded,” she said.

From discussion to action

Students returned to the same breakout rooms for a second session, focused on practical steps they could take in their schools and exploring the question: “What should we do?” Students weighed the benefits and trade-offs of different approaches and developed action ideas within their communities.

Sophomore public policy major and UD student facilitator River Spiece said the experience revealed students’ eagerness to participate.

“I hope students take away the courage to create these kinds of communities,” Spiece said. “It gave me a lot of hope to see that these kids actually want to talk about this stuff. They don’t know where to start.”

Spiece added that practicing dialogue can help students build confidence in engaging with others beyond the conference.

“I hope they can find it in themselves to spread this to their classmates and anyone willing to have that conversation,” Spiece said.

Building civic skills for the future

For Sophie Douglas, a UD facilitator and SNF Ithaca Student Leader, the event underscored the importance of creating spaces where young people feel heard.

“A lot of people don’t realize the power that their voice holds or feel like there isn’t a place to share it,” Douglas said. “Having spaces like this where they can engage civilly is really important.”

Douglas, a sophomore honors student majoring in political science with minors in public policy and social justice, said facilitating helped her become more attentive to whose voices are included in conversations. 

“It’s important to remember empathy when you’re engaging in these discussions,” she said. “Everyone’s coming from a different place.”

Shaffer noted the larger impact of these skills. 

“For young people, having the ability to take perspectives, listen to others and deeply consider alternatives to your own view is essential for the classroom — and civic life, more broadly,” he said. “Educational spaces are training grounds for democracy.”

Where do we go from here?

The day concluded with students reconvening to share reflections and post their ideas on the walls, responding to the question, “Where do we go from here?” The closing session emphasized continued dialogue, collective problem-solving and civic agency.

IPA policy scientist and DCCE assistant director Scott Abbott said the conference reflects the role schools play in preparing students for civic participation.

“Schools are meant to serve as laboratories of democracy,” Abbott said. “Teaching high school students to engage in civil discourse will help them move into responsible adult participants in civic life.”

Abbott added that the skills students practiced will serve them beyond the classroom. 

“We hope that students learned the benefits of looking for common ground with those with whom they may disagree, while developing their sense of agency in improving challenges in their communities,” he said. “The ability to communicate clearly, disagree without being disagreeable and engage in deep conversations that involve consideration of the benefits and tradeoffs of different approaches will help students navigate difference and disagreement.”

As students departed, the focus remained on carrying deliberation skills into classrooms, relationships and communities across Delaware, reinforcing the idea that democracy depends not only on institutions but on people willing to listen, engage and act together.

About the UD Biden School

Established in 1961 and named in 2018 for the 46th President of the United States, the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware prepares students with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to engage in research and public service activities to improve the quality of life in communities around the world. Our faculty, staff, students and alumni create and use interdisciplinary, nonpartisan research and empirically based analysis to inform effective decision-making and policy and to improve leadership and administration. We partner with organizations from all sectors to discover and foster innovative and equitable solutions that promote civic virtues and democratic values.​

Follow and engage with @UDBidenSchool on Facebook and Instagram and connect on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest with research initiatives, academic activities and more.

About the Institute for Public Administration

The University of Delaware's Institute for Public Administration (IPA) addresses the policy, planning and management needs of its partners through the integration of applied research, professional development and the education of tomorrow’s leaders. As a research and public service center in the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, IPA collaborates with state agencies, municipal governments, nonprofits, communities and businesses to examine complex policy issues and improve quality of life in Delaware and beyond.

About the SNF Ithaca Initiative

SNF Ithaca, an initiative of the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration, seeks to advance democracy by equipping students with the civil discourse and civic engagement skills necessary to navigate the mediated public square. Supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), SNF Ithaca is named after the home of Odysseus—one of Greek mythology's greatest heroes. For Odysseus, Ithaca represents not only the beginning of a journey but the ultimate destination. Likewise, the SNF Ithaca Initiative serves as both the beginning of the Biden School students' journey toward becoming engaged and effective citizens and as the ultimate destination for students across the country to come together and work in partnership to develop policy solutions.

About the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world's leading private, international philanthropic organizations, making grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. SNF funds organizations and projects worldwide that aim to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large, and exhibit strong leadership and sound management. SNF also supports projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare. Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $3.3 billion through over 5,100 grants to nonprofit organizations in more than 135 countries around the world.