What if meaningful conversation could help us address some of today's most pressing challenges?

Democratic Engagement Dialogue Series: Exploring the World Café 
October 20, 2026
2 p.m. ET

What if meaningful conversation could help us address some of today’s most pressing challenges?

Join Excelsior University, Fielding Graduate University, the Center for Social Justice, and the Democratic Engagement Rope Team for a keynote of the Democratic Engagement Dialogue Series on October 20 at 2 p.m. ET exploring the transformative power of the World Café, a globally recognized methodology for fostering collaborative dialogue, collective intelligence, and community-driven change. 

Drawing on the newly released publication The World Café: Social Innovation in Action by Fielding Press (Katrina S. Rogers, senior editor, and contributors), this engaging panel discussion will introduce participants to a methodology that has helped communities, educators, organizations, and civic leaders create spaces where meaningful conversations lead to deeper understanding, innovative solutions, and stronger democratic participation 

Since its emergence in 1995, the World Café has evolved into an internationally utilized approach for bringing people together across differences to explore complex issues, build relationships, and generate collective wisdom. Rooted in the belief that conversation is a powerful force for learning and social transformation, the methodology has been applied in settings ranging from education and peacebuilding to sustainability, community governance, and social healing. 

Panelists will discuss the ideas and case studies featured in The World Café: Social Innovation in Action, including the method’s origins, guiding design principles, real-world applications, and its continuing relevance in a time marked by polarization, uncertainty, and rapid social change. Participants will learn and have an opportunity to practice how thoughtfully designed conversations can strengthen democratic engagement, bridge divides, and cultivate more inclusive and resilient communities. 

At the heart of the World Café is what its practitioners call “the magic in the middle”: those moments when collective thinking transcends individual perspectives and new possibilities emerge. We invite students, alums, faculty, staff, partners, and engaged community members to join us for a thought-provoking dialogue about how meaningful conversations can help shape more just, collaborative, and life-affirming futures. Together, let’s explore how conversation can become a catalyst for democratic renewal, social innovation, and collective action. 

Watch a video about the World Café.

Register to participate (registration link in development).