About US

Sustained Dialogue Institute builds capacity for shared action in communities that want to become less divided.

SDI trains local leaders, often young people, to implement evidence-based dialogic practices that have been proven to resolve ethnic conflict, build individual empathy, and decrease violence. For young people, SD participation or moderating an SD group has been proven to enhance civic behaviors and develop leadership through high-impact, accessible programming that creates belonging. Our alumni come from all backgrounds and enter public service, community organizing, peace and justice work, and more. 

Sustained Dialogue Institute (SDI) is a capacity-building organization incorporated in 2002 and based in Washington, D.C. While the practice of Sustained Dialogue (SD) was designed by diplomat, practitioner, and academic Harold Saunders, a youth network on campuses (SDCN) organically began using Saunders’ five stage SD model and has since spread to 100 U.S. campuses where faculty, students, and staff now implement SD groups. SDI also builds capacity in workplaces, government agencies, hospitals and other places that are seeking to approach conflicts around backgrounds, resources, and power. SD has become particularly well-known for creating dialogue around race and ethnic tensions in communities seeking to come together for problem-solving.

SD is a five stage scalable, small group process to build relationships and take action. After implementing SD, groups across the U.S. have taken joint action like running for office together, creating joint podcasts, changing how housing lotteries work, and spinning off entirely new organizations with unlikely partners. 

SDI supports these efforts to build closer and more connected communities, and remove barriers to people engaging democratically regardless of background.

Watch SD alum Priya Parker share more about her experience with Sustained Dialogue as a student on Ezra Klein below.