This is a hybrid event.  In-person participants will be gathering at the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement on the Drexel University campus (3210 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA), while students from around North America will be able to join the dialogue via Zoom. (Philly-area folks are welcome to join digitally, if they prefer.) Undergraduate, graduate and professional students all welcome.

Students will have an opportunity to experience the kind of deep, civil discussion of important issues that is sadly so rare in our society. Participants will also leave with a set of tips for having productive conversations about challenging topics. These can be put to use in the classroom, dorm, or workplace, as well as with family.

Since 2017, The Can We Talk? initiative has held more than 60 forums using this model of structured, moderated dialogue, involving more than 1,500 adults, high school and college students. Participants have graded the personal value of the experience at 8.3 out of 10 on average. Students have called it “eye-opening,” “refreshing,” “welcoming,” and the “best political conversation ever.”

The April 9 event, titled 1776, 2026 and You, will invite participants to explore the connections between current events and the words of the Declaration of Independence, written in Philly 250 years ago. We test drove this concept with students and faculty from Montgomery County (PA) Community College last month and got enthusiastic reviews.

The event lasts two hours, most of it spent in breakout groups guided by Can We Talk?’s  trained moderators, some of whom are Gen Z’ers recently graduated from college. At the top, we go over our concept of “a brave space” for dialogue and review our nine ground rules for how to behave in that brave space.

Register.

Informational flyer.