THE ACADEMY INITIATIVE

The Divided Community Projects Academy Initiative sought to work with communities seeking to design processes which identify and address divisive issues tearing at the fabric of participant communities. To learn more about the Academy Initiative, please click here.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The Divided Community Project’s third Academy Initiative was hosted in Chicago from June 13-15, 2021 in partnership with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. The project convened “core leadership groups” composed of approximately eight stakeholders from four communities: Canton and Stark Counties, Ohio; Cheverly, Maryland; Winston-Salem, North Carolina with approximately 20 leaders from across the state of Michigan.

Bloomington Indiana

The Divided Community Project’s second Academy Initiative was hosted in Chicago from March 1-3, 2020 in partnership with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. The project convened “core leadership groups” composed of approximately eight stakeholders from four communities: Bloomington, Indiana; Charlotte, North Carolina; Indianapolis, Indiana and Midwest City, Oklahoma.

Kenyon College

The Divided Community Project’s inaugural Academy Initiative was hosted in Chicago from March 3-5, 2019 in partnership with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution. The project convened “core leadership groups” composed of approximately eight stakeholders from four communities: Charlottesville, Virginia; Memphis, Tennessee; Kenyon College, Ohio; The state of Oregon, with an emphasis on Portland

"The Academy served as a catalyst for developing a roadmap for our community. it provided a set of resources and a set of processes that you can implement in your own setting and try to make sense of in your own community. Providing that kind of framework is very helpful for any city, and it was for our city in particular. "

– Local pastor, Winston-Salem