Productive Dialogue in a Polarized World: Sharing Learnings and Next Steps

Background

With polarization on the rise, members of the Canadian philanthropic community expressed to PFC that it was incumbent upon sector leaders to engage in difficult yet important conversations to navigate the increasing challenges facing philanthropy and those they work in partnership with. In response, amid growing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hate, PFC embarked on a journey with the aim of fostering learning, understanding, and collaboration within the sector. Aptly named Towards Collaboration and Growth: Productive Dialogue in a Polarized World, PFC co-developed an initiative alongside PFC members, partners, and a range of experts, with generous funding from several prominent foundations.

The initiative has been made possible by contributions from:

Canadian Race Relations Foundation

Community Foundations of Canada

Houssian Foundation

Inspirit Foundation

McConnell Foundation

United Church of Canada Foundation

Vancouver Foundation

Once resources were confirmed, PFC engaged me to help guide the initiative’s development, given my experience in mediation, process design, and dialogue facilitation.

Phase One: Inclusive Consultation and Initiative Design

Consultation

Phase one of the initiative began with a consultation process. Early conversations within the network, alongside consultations with external experts, underscored the diverse needs and expectations within the sector. Acknowledging the complexities of navigating philanthropy in a rights-based, pluralistic, and democratic society under strain, we opted to start with a comprehensive needs assessment to explore how the initiative could best support the range of community needs.

Needs Assessment and Resource Curation

The needs assessment, conducted in spring 2024, involved:

Extensive consultations with the PFC board, members, and partners.

Key interviews with 10 diverse sector leaders who either funded or expressed interest in the initiative.

A PFC nation-wide member questionnaire.

In response to the information garnered, I curated a Resources Guide on the topics of polarization, navigating conflict and resiliency, providing immediate support to the sector beyond time-bound events. In addition, the insights from the needs assessment informed the design and creation of Phase Two of the initiative.

Phase Two: Information Sessions and Dialogue Series

Information Sessions

Phase two comprised of information sessions and a facilitated dialogue series. The first in-person session took place at the PFC CEO Retreat on May 14, beginning with an empathy-building activity focused on the topic of polarization, led by 21 Toys, followed by a presentation and Q&A session which I led. This initial engagement helped to set the tone for the subsequent sessions.

The online Information Sessions, offered in a webinar format with EN-FR interpretation, were designed to accommodate a larger audience as they were accessible nation-wide across time-zones. The two sessions, designed in response to expressed needs, were:

Human Rights and the Canadian Legal Landscape (May 28) – Delivered by Sunil Gurmukh, this session covered Canadian human rights law, definitions, addressing issues like hate speech, freedom of expression, discrimination, and harassment in the workplace.

The Power of Storytelling in Fostering Connection (June 5) – Led by Sara Cook, this session highlighted the transformative power of storytelling to bridge divides in polarizing conflicts, drawing from Sara’s extensive experience working in conflict zones.

Facilitated Dialogue Sessions

The Facilitated Dialogue Sessions, conducted from June into July, consisted of a preparatory session and three intensive days of intentional dialogue. The virtual format facilitated nation-wide participation, with participants engaging in discussions on polarization, discrimination, and the philanthropic sector’s role.

The dialogue sessions were structured around three broad themes:

Personal and professional impact

Concerns about sector reactions and responses

Aspirations for change and philanthropy’s collective role

The sessions incorporated small-group sharing circles, large-group debriefs, and guest presentations, fostering an environment of trust and open communication. The presence of certified trauma-informed support professionals provided real-time psychosocial support, contributing significantly to participants’ sense of safety.

Preliminary reflections from participants were positive, highlighting the value of the dialogue process, the importance of creating safe spaces for challenging conversations, and the value of building relationships across various sector silos. Participants expressed gratitude for the initiative’s bravery and the care in its delivery. Some participant reflections included:

“I think PFC did a brave and bold thing with this program. Thank you for putting so much effort into developing this program and helping us build a stronger toolkit, build allies, and expand our sense of what is possible if we keep talking.”

“It was a great series and training!”

“I am so grateful to have been part of this brave initiative – Thanks so much to all the organizers.”

“Thank you for this work – it’s a critical conversation to have in the sector and I have so much respect for you and PFC for doing this.”

Phase Three: Key Learnings, Recommendations, and Call to Action

Key Learnings

Phase three of the initiative is focused on garnering learnings, insights, and the ripple effects from the dialogue series participants, sharing the learnings from phases one and two with the broader philanthropic community, and integrating the learnings into PFC’s 2024 National Conference during a presentation on the initiative.

Below are a few of the key learnings shared with us through a feedback survey following the dialogue series:

“Being able to hear from others in the sector how impacted their work and personhood have been related to the crisis.”

“That the trepidation about speaking about the conflict exists throughout the philanthropic community.”

“It was … powerful to watch people be vulnerable and speak to their fear and their anger.”

“The ability to hold space for different views and have that dialogue in a respectful way.”

“There are many truths—not any one truth is the right and correct one; the sum of all truths is likely the reality we are witnessing.”

“That we need more spaces and opportunities to convene and dialogue together. I learned the value of how crucial this is in order for us to start working toward solutions.”

“Learning about the possibilities to have the most impact with our voice, our dollars, and our programs.”

Recommendations

An unanticipated outcome of the initiative has been the extent of the revelation and the profoundness of the impact polarization has had – and is having – on the sector and its members. The ripple effects are causing harm not only to those within the sector but also to the communities they serve. One key insight that resonated with me during the series is that when we foster connections across differences, we are more inclined to offer grace and support when conflicts arise. At this time, the sector urgently needs greater intention, more opportunities, clear objectives, and incentives to nurture these connections.

Following the series, we received valuable recommendations from sector leaders, emphasizing the continued need to address growing polarization through collaborative efforts. There is strong interest in delving deeper into key areas, such as creating a shared factual foundation, exploring the ethical considerations and impacts of philanthropic funding, identifying practical strategies for foundations to collaborate toward meaningful change, and expanding the dialogue series—preferably in person—to provide more opportunities for community members to engage in these important conversations.

To meet the expressed needs and recommendations, it is crucial for more individuals, foundations, and boards to step forward and take the lead. This will require the development of proposals and programming, securing necessary funding, and ensuring broad inclusion across the sector to advance efforts that promote pluralism and a shared society.

Call to Action

We invite sector leaders to join us in our pursuit of strengthening the middle ground during this time of polarization. Engage in difficult conversations with respect and an open mind, listen to diverse perspectives with the aim of deepening understanding, and build relationships so our differences do not divide us. By embracing these principles, we can chart a way forward through collective action. Join us and the dialogue series participants who are working to foster understanding and collaboration, including those who have shared the below commitments to positive change since taking part in the initiative:

“Using what I learned and the resources that were shared with all of us, I have put together a small toolkit and presentation to help prepare our staff for engaging in community and attending conferences where these issues may arise.”

“Starting more conversations and having more neutral, peace-based language to frame dialogue.”

“I will be taking the staff through this ahead of the PFC conference.”

“It has been helpful to frame perspectives and be able to respond with empathy within our organization and offer guidance to senior leadership in navigating these topics.”

Conclusion

Towards Collaboration and Growth: Productive Dialogue in a Polarized World represents a significant step towards fostering greater understanding and collaboration within the Canadian philanthropic community. By addressing some of the most challenging complexities of polarization and discrimination, and emphasizing the importance of respectful dialogue, PFC and its partners have begun to pave the way for a more inclusive and empathetic sector – and society. The initiative’s success thus far is a testament to the power of collective engagement and the potential for positive change through intentional dialogue and collaboration.