Communicating Across Cultures in a Changing City

In the fall of 2019, a team of researchers at Howard University’s Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies hosted a total of 18 small-group forums. Strangers of all ages, ethnicities and geographic origins sat down, and broke bread across the table in small groups. They listened to live music. They created a safe space to share their cultures, their feelings about their neighborhoods, and to brainstorm how they could better hear each other.

Below are links to two new discussion guides for groups or individuals to host discussions of their own. We invite local organizations, schools, faith, and other civic groups to use these discussion guides as a way to build community, practice empathy—and speak across cultures. There is no cost or other charge to download or use these discussion guides.

Photo by Communicating Across Cultures

These discussion guides are the result of a yearlong project led by a team of researchers at Howard University’s Department of Communication and conducted in collaboration with and sponsorship by the Interactivity Foundation, Humanities D.C., Brink Media, Nextdoor, Don’t Mute DC, Google, and the D.C. Mayor’s office of African American Affairs. This project hosted over 100 people in 18 small-group forums among old and new residents of Washington, D.C., who worked to understand how we can communicate better across cultures.

Go to the website for Communicating Across Cultures for more information.