In-Person, Pittsburgh Coach Training, Collaborative Discussion Project

August 21, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Pittsburgh, PA (In-Person)

Calling Pittsburgh Nonprofit Leaders, Community Organizers and Educators!

In partnership with Pittsburgh-based global non-profit organization All People Be Happy, we are hosting a Collaborative Discussion Coach Training to build collaborative capacity in the city of Pittsburgh. This is an opportunity to learn new skills, become a certified coach, and connect with other leaders in our community. 

Co-Facilitated by: Jes Friedrichs, Director of Education & Shannon Wheatley Hartman, President of IF

Register today!
This interactive training is limited to 20 participants to ensure hands-on learning, meaningful practice, and individualized support.

The Collaborative Discussion Coach Training prepares participants to confidently use the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit in classrooms, communities, and workplaces. 

Upon successful completion of this training, you will be awarded a formal letter,  certificate of completion, and digital badge recognizing your status as a Certified Collaborative Discussion Coach. 

What You’ll Gain

By the end of the training, successful participants will:

• A deeper understanding of key collaborative discussion concepts.
• Greater familiarity with the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit and the intentional design of its activities.
• Direct experience facilitating selected expedited toolkit activities, with structured debriefs on how to lead each one.
• Access to Coach-Only Resources, including assessment tools, certificate program templates, and facilitation supports.
• Access to post-training one-on-one consultations with the program director and support team.
• Free registration to the “Design Your Own Certificate Program” workshop, which authorizes coaches to award certificates and digital badges in collaborative discussion. 
• Invitations to future IF workshops, webinars, and advanced trainings designed exclusively for collaborative discussion coaches. 
• Opportunities to join a growing community of educators, dialogue practitioners, and civic professionals committed to nurturing collaborative intelligence.

Who Should Register?

This training is open to anyone interested in becoming a Certified IF Collaborative Discussion Coach, including:

• Educators and staff (K–12 and higher education)
• Librarians
• Community leaders and facilitators
• Civic consultants
• Teaching assistants and graduate students
• Professional development managers
• Others passionate about the power of discussion to strengthen democratic and collaborative practice

Registration Details

• Dates: August 21, 2026
• Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
• Format: In-person in Pittsburgh, PA  (address provided upon registration)
• Cost: $250*
• Lunch and refreshments will be provided
• Registration Deadline: Friday, July 10, 2026

Facilitators

Training will be led by Interactivity Foundation staff and professional CDP trainers. Facilitator details will be updated closer to the event.

Questions?

Contact Jes Friedrichs at [email protected]

If the training fills, please complete this waitlist form or register for a future training on our events calendar.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

To cancel your registration, contact [email protected]

• Full refunds, minus a 10% processing fee, are issued for cancellations submitted in writing by Friday, June 26, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern. After this time, we cannot guarantee refunds.  

*This discounted rate is made possible by the generous support of the Interactivity Foundation. IF programming is designed never to be cost-prohibitive. Please contact us if a scholarship is needed.