The University of Michigan is inviting faculty and staff to propose programming ideas for the Center for American Dialogue, which will serve as the foundation for a national model of solving societal problems through productive skill-building, engagement and interaction.
UM-based units and organizations can submit funding proposals beginning June 15. The application window continues through July 27.
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Announced in 2025 by President Domenico Grasso, the center aims to become a defining example of how to effectively promote civil discourse and convene with purpose, to produce thoughtful, informed, well-reasoned and consequential outcomes that save lives, improve quality of life and create opportunities for all Americans.
The proposals are for “year one” programs, and are intentionally open to U-M organizations from all three campuses and Michigan Medicine.
“U-M faculty and staff have a deep respect and appreciation for improving public discourse, and, each year, demonstrate ingenuity and expertise in this area,” said Arthur Lupia, Center for American Dialogue lead and vice president for research and innovation. “As we prepare to launch the Center for American Dialogue, we are eager to develop new capacities from this incredible foundation.”
Year one programs are open in five categories:
- Program 1: Convene with Purpose Speaker Series – Events, or series of events, featuring speakers who bring together audiences with differing viewpoints to address urgent, real-world challenges.
- Program 2: Center for American Dialogue Certificate & Micro-Credentials – Includes short courses, badges and micro-credentials that teach or strengthen civic skills and awareness, dialogue methods and collaborative problem-solving.
- Program 3: Center for American Dialogue Cooperative Extension Service – Seeks groups or teams partnering with external communities to design and deliver programs that “convene with purpose” and lead to real outcomes and solve meaningful problems in Michigan communities.
- Program 4: Interactive Simulations – Be the Solution – Intended to include interactive, game-based simulations and role-playing experiences (in person and online) that build capacity for intentional listening, humility and teamwork in meaningful real-world scenarios.
- Program 5: Applications & Connection Building Games – Includes digital or hybrid applications/games designed to foster collaboration, open-mindedness and creative problem-solving among diverse groups. Activities should encourage participants to assume different perspectives on interesting and challenging issues and collaboratively seek common ground.
For year one, existing UM-based organizations that are actively running dialogue-relevant or dialogue-adjacent programs are asked to build new capacities from work that they are currently doing. Activities should engage the U-M community in ways that produce tangible outcomes that benefit populations beyond the university.
The funding range for each proposal is a minimum of $5,000 and maximum of $100,000. Proposed programs would run from Sept. 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2027. Center funding will come in the form of award agreements rather than open-ended grants, and an evaluation committee will evaluate proposals.
The center will have a presence on U-M’s campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint, as well as Washington, D.C., and locations across the state and the country that offer productive opportunities for constructive dialogue. Connected to U-M’s Look to Michigan strategic vision, the Center for American Dialogue takes an immersive approach to this charge.
To learn more or discuss potential ideas, contact [email protected].
