Sustained Dialogue Institute

Sustained Dialogue Institute SDI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit promoting dialogue for decision-making, governance, and peace.

02/19/2026

In a powerful conversation with Ezra Klein, conflict resolution facilitator and author of The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker reflects on her formative experience with Sustained Dialogue at the University of Virginia, and why the United States needs to gather across differences more than ever.

When Parker and her peers launched SD circles at the University of Virginia in 2001, they learned something crucial. The most transformative groups weren't just diverse; they brought together students with clear, specific differences: College Republicans and LGBTQ+ students, Jewish American and Arab American students.

"We had incredible conversations. We went into territory we barely ever get to go into." [...] "Everyone knew exactly why they were in the room. That clarity created the container for genuine depth."

Parker's insight is urgent: "If Americans don't gather more and across differences, we'll slide further into authoritarianism. The antidote is connection."

We need spaces where people can practice building relationships across cultural, political and generational differences; the kind of relationships that a strong democracy requires. This is the work Sustained Dialogue has honed in colleges, communities and workplaces over the last 20+ years.

Watch the excerpt below, in which Priya reflects on those UVA circles and her training with former diplomat and founder of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, Dr. Harold Saunders.

What role can Sustained Dialogue play in your community?

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Full interview and transcript: Is Your Social Life Missing Something? This Conversation Is for You. Published on Feb. 3, 2026
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-priya-parker.html

Facilitation Training Options 2026-2027 and Free Monthly Info Sessions! Full virtual training calendar: https://luma.c...
02/19/2026

Facilitation Training Options 2026-2027 and Free Monthly Info Sessions! Full virtual training calendar: https://luma.com/sustaineddialogue

Productive conversations don't happen by accident; they are intentionally designed, structured, and facilitated.

The Leading Productive Community Conversations training series equips you with the tools to lead dialogue that actually moves people and communities from knowing each other to doing something meaningful together. You'll walk away with two powerful skill sets:

💡 Learn how to design and lead dialogue sessions that are grounded in relationships and equity. Whether you're managing a team or convening a community, you'll leave with a practical framework for creating conversations that matter.

💡 Go deeper with the Sustained Dialogue process, a proven methodology developed by former diplomat Dr. Harold Saunders. Designed for willing participants navigating entrenched conflict, this approach builds trust, strengthens relationships, and moves groups toward real, lasting action.

Who is this for? Community organizers, facilitators, mediators, city council members, team leaders, educators, and anyone who wants to turn difficult conversations into meaningful change.

Want to know what Sustained Dialogue is and how to use it in your workplace, campus, or community? Join a free info session! Next call 👉 Monday 23rd, 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern. https://luma.com/dziu022x

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