ESCANABA — During the Winter 2024 Semester, Bay College Civics Corps students worked with Dr. Alice Maher and Mr. Matt Bogaty of Waging Dialogue to learn principles for effective dialogue, while practicing these job-ready skills with people from various generations. The students participating in the Civics Corps this past term were Samantha Combs, Chloe Pokovich, and Madison Provencher. The club is advised by Dr. June Klees.

Through a series of interactive sessions focused on building job-ready Civic Diplomacy skills, the students practiced basic, but critical, psychological and historical-mindsets that gave them an interdisciplinary, scientifically-based awareness of how to effectively engage in dialogue across differences. They also used critical thinking, organizational, and time-management skills, as they selected discussion partners and topics for two-part intergenerational listening sessions. The students then conducted a meta-analysis of their experiences, which they shared in their podcast episode. Upon completion, students earn a Civic Diplomacy micro-credential. The podcast episode released in mid-May is available for viewing on Waging Dialogue’s YouTube channel: Civics Corps Podcast Spring 2024.

Additionally, Combs, Pokovich, and Klees were guests on Next Generation Politics’ “The Round Table Podcast.” The students were interviewed by a team of high school students from New York City, who host the podcast, and discussed the professional benefits of the Civics Corps Experience. Stated in the show notes from “The Round Table Podcast,” the Bay College Civics Corps is a “pioneering endeavor” that embodies “the spirit of service and solidarity,” particularly through their Veterans Speak event held each November. “The Round Table Podcast” episode is available on Spotify: Community Does Not Mean Agreement, Community Means Understanding.