4:15 PM
90 minutes remaining
Before you start
Plan your session
Choose the question for each round — swap options to fit your table.
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute
Welcome
Pull up a chair
Introduce yourself, then read aloud
"Welcome, everyone! The Longest Table is a community tradition — a touchpoint for all campus community members to ensure that we're truly having a meaningful connection as the school year begins. We're going to be in dialogue together for about an hour. I'll be watching the screen to guide us and keep time — you all just look up and listen to each other. Whenever you respond, share your name first, so we get to know each other. Ready to begin?"
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute
How we'll be together
A few agreements
Read aloud to the group.
1Engage as if this is a brave space, not simply a safe space.
2What is shared here is confidential.
3Use "I" statements that don't assume shared views, demographics, or experiences.
4Share airtime — don't dominate the conversation.
5Use one another's names.
6Listen to understand, not to judge or debate.
This app keeps the group on time by giving each speaker a turn with a timer.
This is optional — feel free to leave if you can't agree to these norms!
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute
Before we begin
What to expect
Read aloud to the group
"We'll move through a few questions together. For each one, we'll take a quiet minute to think, then go around and share — and you can always pass if you'd like more time."
Question 1: Identity & strengths
What is one part of your identity, background, or life experience that has shaped who you are today?
Question 2: Belonging
What responsibility do each of us have in helping others feel like they belong?
Question 3: Dialogue skills
Tell us about a time when someone challenged your perspective in a respectful way. What did you learn?
Question 4: Leadership & impact
Can you think of a time when you saw one person's actions create a positive ripple effect in a community?
Question 5: Closing reflection
How has today's conversation shaped the way you think about your role in the SIUE community?
Facilitation Buddy · Powered by the Sustained Dialogue Institute
Round 1 of 5
Say to the group
"Let's take a quiet minute to reflect on this question before we start sharing."
Or use a different question for your table:
Other options
Recommended
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute
Silent Reflection
Please take a minute to think in silence before sharing.
1:00
Between rounds
A quick moment of connection
Read aloud to the group
"Before our next question, I want to give you a quick chance for connection: to share anything you really appreciated hearing, or to give a quick thanks to someone for what they shared — especially if it helped you. We have time to hear from 2–3 folks."
4:00
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute
Question 1
Speaker 1
20:00 of 20 min remaining
2:00
Question 1
Share, then rotate clockwise
Facilitation Buddy · Powered by the Sustained Dialogue Institute
That's a wrap
Thank you
Read aloud to close
"Thank you all so much for sharing and listening today. It really means a lot that you showed up and opened up with one another. I hope you'll take something from this conversation with you — and keep it going beyond this table."
Facilitation Buddy · Sustained Dialogue Institute