Past Events Archive

This event seeks to explore a central question: How can university communities draw upon their histories of activism, advocacy, and democratic participation to build a more equitable and inclusive future?

In this talk, she looks at the years following the Revolutionary War, when Americans continued to use their neighborhood taverns as sites for gathering and political mobilization. The scope and significance of practices that had been so central to the revolutionary struggle shifted in the early republic, as Americans wrestled with the promise and problems of republican self-government. Although the mid-nineteenth-century temperance movement would soon frame tavern-going as the habit of dangerously shiftless men, in the republic's early decades, entrepreneurial, improvement-minded men—and some women!--went to taverns to raise capital, promote innovative businesses, practice genteel sociability, and put republican self-government into practice.

On behalf of the Dialogue Michigan planning team, we invite U-M faculty and staff to join us for our next event, where we will explore a practical tool for this civic work.

Democratic engagement requires us to move beyond debate and toward dialogue. Circle processes provide a structured way to do exactly that and to be in community. Rooted in First Nation and Indigenous peacemaking practices, these processes create an egalitarian space where:
- Every voice is centered: The use of a talking piece ensures that all participants have the space to be heard without interruption.
- Power is shared: The circular structure removes traditional hierarchies, encouraging collective responsibility and transparency.
- Community is restored: It offers a framework for navigating conflict and making decisions that reflect the needs of the whole, rather than just the majority.

This workshop will be interactive, providing you with the opportunity to experience a circle firsthand and learn how to bring these restorative practices into your work and community spaces.

Registration required: https://sessions.studentlife.umich.edu/p/track/16802

LEARN MORE ABOUT DIALOGUE MICHIGAN
https://myumi.ch/dialogue

Too often Detroit has been viewed as a site of social and economic problems, and not as a source of solutions or strategies for the future. With partners at Bridge Detroit, the University of Michigan Detroit Center is hosting a series of public panel discussions exploring the struggles and achievements of local grassroots movements who have confronted the challenges of the 21st century–from food deserts and environmental racism to gentrification and violence–with the grit and spirit of innovation that defines the spirit of the Motor City. Come join the conversation, and learn the lessons that Detroit has to teach the nation and the world

First, I will discuss Plurals, a system that uses multi-agent deliberation to simulate socially diverse ensembles rather than a single neutral model output. Plurals provides a flexible framework for configuring agents, interaction structures, and moderation strategies inspired by deliberative democracy. Across multiple case studies and experiments, we show that simulated social ensembles can produce outputs that better resonate with real audiences than standard single-model generation.

Second, I will introduce an ongoing line of work that explores AI-assisted narrative autocompletion as a tool for reducing psychological distance to complex societal issues. This work uses interactive, personalized narratives co-written with users to help people imagine how distant or abstract events could plausibly unfold in their own lives.

Taken together, these projects illustrate two complementary strategies for AI in society: one that emphasizes pluralistic deliberation across perspectives, and another that leverages narrative imagination to connect individual experience with collective outcomes.

The evening will include special performances from SMTD Students and The Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, dialogue in small groups, and free dinner for all participants.

This event is in partnership with The SMTD Student Success Office, U-M Dearborn, U-M Flint, The Arts Initiative, USA at 250, The SMTD EXCEL Lab, and The Program on Intergroup Relations.This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan and the U.S. at 250 Grant Program.

Each session offers a space to pause, sort out what’s happening, and engage in thoughtful, civil discussion with peers. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your perspective—no preparation required.

Josh Pasek is Professor of Communication & Media and Political Science, Faculty Associate at the Center for Political Studies, Institute for Social Research, and Associate Director of the Michigan Institute for Data Science at the University of Michigan