The Maryland Dialogues on Diversity and Community are a series of events, lectures, symposia, discussions and listening sessions for faculty, staff, students and alumni to help advance discussions of identity, difference and commonality. Meaningful dialogue and critical thinking can change culture. We want to engage students, staff and faculty at UMD—in classrooms and football fields and office corridors—in a variety of events and activities that expand our knowledge of ourselves and others, and foster greater inclusion on campus and ultimately in the communities and world that we serve. UMD is well positioned to move this agenda forward. Our history, robust diversity and location provide a unique opportunity to invest and engage in honest and challenging dialogues.

The Maryland Dialogues are an ongoing initiative that will highlight one aspect of the intersecting quality of diversity at a time. The first year will emphasize issues of race and racism, not in isolation but in relation to issues of gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, language, religion and disability, each of which will be, in turn, the subject of future focus.