Conversation Programs

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life creates programs that expose participants to civic ideas and practices, inspire them with visions for community building and social change, and help them forge interpersonal connections. These programs range widely in content and audience, encompassing paint nights in UMBC’s residence halls, deliberative dialogues among people at UMBC interested in specific public policy issues, opportunities for students and alumni to talk about plans and aspirations, and events for the entire campus community. Most of these programs are collaborative efforts involving campus and local partners. To explore or request an opportunity to work with Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff to develop a community event, please submit a Civic Design CoLab form.

Dinner with Friends programs bring members of the UMBC community together to engage in civil dialogue about issues important to them. Participants spend the evening in small groups sharing stories, gaining insight into civic problems and solutions, learning about each other’s experiences, and discussing ways to move forward.

Groups of people sitting at tables and talking in the Skylight
UMBC students, faculty, and staff gather to talk about what an inclusive campus community looks like.

Previous Dinners with Friends topics have included:

  • Building and strengthening community at UMBC during and after the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Supporting mental health at UMBC in challenging times;
  • Promoting civic agency and engagement at UMBC between elections; and
  • Fostering equity and inclusion at UMBC.

See the Events page for upcoming Dinner with Friends programs.

Prior to 2024-25, we also hosted two other dinner programs called “Change Makers Dinners” (focused on local changemakers and social change pathways) and “Changing Maryland” (focused on engagement with Maryland policymakers and state policymaking). We still provide opportunities like these, but have since decided to use the name “Dinner with Friends” for all of these opportunities.

Groups of people talking at tables of 8 in the Apartment Community Center
UMBC community members engage in small group conversations with state legislators and policy actors.

Real Talk (previously called the “Civic Courage Journaling Project”) supports members of the UMBC community in discussing and reflecting on personal experiences with civic implications. We are revamping the Real Talk program for the 2025-26 school year. Stay tuned for more information.

Together Beyond programs are reflective, guided conversations about national and global events affecting members of the UMBC community. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life developed Together Beyond’s facilitation structure in partnership with UMBC staff experts in social justice dialogue, mental health, and restorative practices.

Some Together Beyond conversations are open to the entire UMBC community; others are held for specific groups and organizations on campus (e.g. student organizations; scholars programs; residential students). Previous Together Beyond topics have included:
Election 2020;

  • The COVID-19 pandemic;
  • The January 6, 2021 insurrection; and
  • The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

To explore or request an opportunity to work with Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff to host or develop a Together Beyond event appropriate to your group, please submit a Civic Design CoLab form.