A leader’s ability to facilitate understanding, inclusion, and resolution is key to leading a group to success. Honoring and valuing Black and Black Deaf people’s experiences are critical to creating an inclusive, empowering and effective work group. During classroom dialogue, students will actively participate in structured discussions with students and learn from each other’s perspectives, read and discuss relevant reading material, and explore avenues to resolution. Students may apply knowledge gained through dialogue and readings to lead agencies and organizations to inclusive change. Students will also explore ways of taking action to create change and bridge differences through readings, journals, leading a dialogue and a final written paper.

This skills-oriented course introduces theories and practices of conflict resolution and provides basic training in mediation, negotiation, and facilitation. In addition to examining the strengths and weaknesses for each of these conflict resolution methods, this course orients students to specific tools commonly used in each to manage conflicts, such as identifying the zone of possible agreement (ZOPA), developing BATNAs (best alternative to a negotiated agreement), and performing SWOT Analyses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). Through the use of case studies, simulations, role-plays, and reflective practice, students will learn how to manage power imbalances and ethical dilemmas, address needs for accommodations, and adapt for cultural differences. Students will learn a range of transferable skills for managing interpersonal, organizational, and community disputes.