Retreat Details

Why Dialogue on Race?

Mission

Why focus on race? What about other forms of diversity?

Who should get involved?

How can I get involved?

Dialogue on Race

October 21 & 22, 2005

A retreat sponsored by NIU’s  

Counseling & Student Development Center

Retreat Details

When? October 21 (Friday) & October 22 (Saturday), 2005

Where? Campus Life Building, Room 100

Meals: All retreat meals and snacks, as well as the follow-up dinner, will be provided.

Cost: There is no charge to attend the retreat! In exchange, we ask for your thoughtful participation and willingness to share what you've learned with others.

Facilitators: Facilitators include NIU faculty and staff from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

Activities: Activities will include experiential exercises as well as small and large group discussions.

“We all wished for more time, but we could have talked forever.”
--Student participant, 2002

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Why Dialogue on Race?

CSDC is committed to providing an opportunity, through Dialogue on Race, for students from varying racial backgrounds to engage in dialogue about the role that race plays in their lives.

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Mission

The mission of Dialogue on Race is to provide an experiential learning environment that is both challenging and supportive for students who wish to:

• Increase their self-awareness and insight regarding racial issues;

• Celebrate racial diversity;

• Become more skillful in addressing issues of prejudice and discrimination with their peers; and,

• Increase their leadership role in addressing these critical issues as they affect NIU. 

A second part of the mission is to provide an opportunity for CSDC staff to work collegially with faculty and staff of NIU to increase mutual support and encouragement in addressing the needs of NIU’s diverse student body.

"WOW! That's all I can say!" 

Student participant, 2003

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Why focus on race? What about other forms of diversity?

There’s no question that all aspects of diversity are important and that there is important overlap among these aspects. 

Nevertheless, there is value in focusing on race and making the decision to talk about certain realities:

• Race and racial identity have always been and continue to be significant and visible parts of American life.

• Racial barriers continue to influence social, political, and economic realities despite decades of progress in understanding our common humanity.

• White privilege is often easy to overlook; discussing diversity highlights internalized assumptions.

• Developing the skills in talking about and celebrating racial differences can become a springboard to dialogue about other aspects of diversity.

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Who Should Get Involved?

You!

No formal training and/or education is necessary.

We are looking for up to 40 NIU students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds with the following characteristics:

• A commitment to attend both days of the weekend retreat, as well as a follow-up dinner to be held a few weeks later.

• A strong commitment to improve the current racial climate at NIU.

• Student leaders or students who want to become leaders in this effort.

• A willingness to give back to their communities what they have learned during the weekend.

• A willingness to explore their own racial prejudices.

• A willingness to listen and help others explore their prejudices in a safe and supportive manner.

"I will go home and spread all the knowledge I have learned." 

Student participant, 2003

How can I get involved?

Interested in participating? Click here for an application.

Page last updated on December 23, 2004
Contacting CSDC by E-mail