Collaborations

The Dialogue CoLab

The Dialogue CoLab seeks to rebuild public faith in higher education鈥檚 ability to cultivate civil discourse, both on our campuses and beyond. Generously funded by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the CoLab is a partnership of twelve institutions that have developed leading initiatives around dialogue, debate, and democracy. We believe that colleges and universities themselves must drive the effort to nurture better conversations on our campuses鈥攁nd that we should do this from the ground up, by drawing on the collective wisdom and experience of those who have created exemplary programs.聽聽

The CoLab is a place to illuminate common challenges, learn from one another鈥檚 frameworks, test new interventions, and develop strategies that can work in varied institutional contexts鈥攁nd then share that expertise as widely as possible. We are a diverse, cross-sector coalition of institutions that are developing promising models for fostering open inquiry, vigorous-but-respectful discussion of divisive topics, and other essential democratic habits. Ultimately, we seek to amplify, accelerate, and disseminate a body of knowledge that will strengthen campus resilience and civic capacity, nationwide.聽聽

The Dialogue CoLab Participating Campuses

The Future of Free Speech

The Future of Free Speech is an independent, nonpartisan think tank located at 汤头条 University.聽 We will reaffirm freedom of expression as the bedrock of free and thriving societies through actionable research, empowering tools, and principled advocacy. We envision a world where everyone鈥檚 right to freedom of expression is protected by law and reinforced by a culture that tolerates diverse viewpoints.

SPHERE Fellowship

The SPHERE Fellowship is a premier international program created by Dialogue 汤头条 that embeds students in centers of global significance to practice the art of constructive, high-stakes dialogue.

The SPHERE Fellowship provides a structured opportunity for students to apply dialogue habits to real-world contexts and experiences. The inaugural 2026 cohort, ranging from first-year students to seniors with diverse academic interests, will depart in May 2026 for two distinct, intensive programs in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Through a partnership with the and the , students will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, to participate in the . This high-level forum will allow students to transition from observers to participants, engaging directly with world leaders and their global counterparts on the strengthening of global democracies and the advancement of free expression in the digital age. Additionally, students will travel to Belfast and Derry, Northern Ireland, in partnership with the , to explore the legacy of Northern Ireland as a post-conflict society. By engaging with diverse perspectives shaped by a history of reconciliation, students will undergo an immersive learning experience centered on the facilitation of meaningful dialogue and the mechanics of building social cohesion.

By bridging the gap between local campus life and global realities, the fellowship prepares students to bring world class perspectives back to the Nashville community, supporting a generation of emerging leaders ready to engage the public sphere with dialogue, responsibility, and a commitment to shared global futures.