Overview
The UW-Madison Deliberation Dinners are a series of dinners that engage students in meaningful discussions about controversial issues.
How did it start?
Deliberation Dinners began as an initiative of the Discussion Project. It was founded in 2023 by Diana Hess, UW–Madison School of Education dean emerita and principal investigator of The Discussion Project.
Why Deliberation?
Discussion writ large is a focused inquiry through speaking and listening that is purposeful, broadly collaborative, and leads to deeper understanding through analysis of different perspectives. Deliberation, more specifically, is a discussion that answers the question, “What shall we do?” — without requiring or seeking consensus.
Why Deliberation Dinners?
The goal is not consensus on controversial issues. Deliberation Dinners begin with light-hearted conversation to set the table for the deeper work. As the evening transitions into a partner share and the main discussion, students engage in constructive dialogue about a divisive topic. The work is in listening to understand and ensuring everyone has a voice. Ultimately, around those tables — and in the classrooms, forums and conversations yet to come — the Wisconsin Exchange’s vision of “pluralism in practice” takes shape.
The Deliberation Dinners initiative is funded by UW-Madison and developed and run by The Discussion Project, which is based in the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. The initiative will continue to be evaluated by the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative.
Questions? Contact Us
If you have questions about the Deliberation Dinners, please contact us at discussion-project@education.wisc.edu.