A Summer of Dialogue and Democracy at Saint Mary’s
During the warm summer months at Saint Mary's, high school students participate in a program to help them learn to listen to others and speak up about what matters to them. The pre-college program Dialogue and Democracy helps girls think critically and interact productively with people of different views. Established three years ago by Professor Megan Zwart and supported by a grant from the John J. and Frank Sparacio Foundation, this program was created in service of two objectives: to provide high school students the opportunity to build skills for dialogue and democratic participation; and to spark their interest in attending Saint Mary's.
Zwart, chair of the Department of Philosophy, is the program’s founder. She and cofounder Andrew Pierce, associate professor of Philosophy and director of the Justice Studies program, envisioned Dialogue and Democracy as having two foundational elements. First, students would be introduced to the principles of dialogue and given opportunities to strengthen their skills through practice. Second, the program would emphasize community engagement, helping girls learn how to speak up about issues that matter to them. As part of the program, students visit community nonprofits and businesses run by women as a way to develop confidence and positivity. They visit the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to learn about a circle dialogue process. Students also hear from a panel of legislators about how to get involved in local democracy and develop an action plan they can take back to their community. Zwart hopes the lessons learned during the week support students in knowing how to engage diverse viewpoints and how to participate in democracy. Every student could have a different take away from the program, but Zwart’s goal is for them to develop the ability to listen and the confidence to speak up.
I want students to be engaged by others in a curious way, but I also want them to learn and understand that their voices really matter. These students have a lot to contribute to their communities…so giving students real, concrete skills for responding at the local level can be a empowering way to help students use their voices to speak up about what matters to them.
– Megan Zwart
The week-long camp begins in the classroom with discussion for the first two days, followed by three days of community-building. Dialogue and Democracy is a residential program, so participants live on campus and have camp counselors guide and interact with them outside of the organized content. Angelina Wright ’25, a camp counselor and current Saint Mary’s student, loved being involved with the Dialogue and Democracy summer program.
When asked about her experience as a camp counselor, Wright said, “Summer ’23 was my first year being a part of this program, and it was probably the highlight of my summer. Being a program counselor for Dialogue and Democracy gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. In this program, we had to share, express, and congregate ideas and solutions. We were able to go to Saint Mary’s Sustainable Farm, visit the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, and have one-on-one conversations between our group and the community. Being able to mentor young high school ladies who were very open-minded reminded me of myself. I loved this program in particular because we addressed topics that fit our everyday lives. It helped and prepared us to be open-minded while also speaking our own thoughts, opinions, and perceptions.”
As valuable as the program is to Saint Mary’s, it is equally so to high school students who want to be active members of their communities. It is one thing to be loud, Zwart shares, but it's another thing to be effective when speaking up. For current first-year students Allison Mounce, Vanessa Cloherty, Bridget Stroner, Laura Turba, and Kathryn Huth, this program was influential in them attending Saint Mary’s. Their hands-on experience, being on campus, staying in the dorms, and eating in the dining hall, all solidified their decision to attend. The skills students learn will help them become active in democracy. “If you build these skills for listening and engaging productively across differences,” Zwart says, “that's going to help you be so much more effective when you're trying to make change.”
Learn more and register for Dialogue and Democracy.
April 5, 2024