Our Mission

The Conversation Project (TCP) cultivates the capacity for honest, transformative dialogue creating pathways for compassionate conversation and creative problem solving.

Through educational programs, research, and community events, TCP integrates practical skills in listening and facilitation with storytelling and the arts to help communities bridge divides and move from fear to hope, isolation to belonging, and withdrawal to courageous engagement.  

We believe that healthy communities – and a healthy democracy – need public spaces where we share stories and listen to each other. Our communities are held together by three shared ideas: “I see you, I hear you, we need each other.”  TCP creates conditions that allow for vulnerability as a path towards courage, connection, and a recognition of our common humanity.

What our Students are Saying

“I feel as though I can better ground myself and settle myself during difficult conversations and listen for understanding instead of listening to react.”

“Meaningful conversations require intention and a willingness to sit in discomfort. Conversations across differences are not about winning or proving a point, but about understanding and recognizing the humanity in others. The Conversation Project showed me that dialogue can be a powerful tool for healing and change when people feel safe enough to be honest.”

“It's integral to the human spirit that we learn to connect with each other again. If I can create conversations like the ones I was a part of, then I'll know all the struggles will have been worth it. For now, I can be grateful for what I've gotten to be a part of. “

Upcoming Events

DOCUMENTARY ABOUT OUR WORK COMING SOON "The Stories We Carry: Listening in a Divided World"   

Watch here for a trailer soon!

What do we Hold? A Gallery Talk and Community Conversation

Front: Roger Shimomura (American, born 1939), American in Disguise, 2012, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 24 in, Maribeth Collins Art Acquisition Fund, 2014.032. Photo: Greg Kucera Gallery.

Please join us October 15th, 2026 from 5-6pm in the Hallie Ford Museum of Art for a lecture and reception highlighting the exhibition and reflecting on the impact of the community conversations hosted at HFMA last Spring. 

This exhibition was created in collaboration with the Office of Civic Engagement at Willamette University in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The project brought together students, faculty, and Salem community members to explore themes in the Declaration and how to talk about our histories, present challenges, and hopes for the future. The exhibition features an array of art pieces that grounded participants' conversations in consideration of the multiple perspectives, themes, and backgrounds that define what it means to be an American. Visit the Hallie Ford Art Museum from July 11th till November 21st, 2026 to join in consideration of our shared American identity at this 250th anniversary.

To find more information visit: Willamette Events: What Do We Hold? A Community Conversation

Recent Events

Conversation Ambassador Summer Internship

In the Summer of 2025, three conversation ambassadors interned with A Peace of My Mind, an artistic storytelling project that seeks to spark hope and share stories of humanity through photography and community conversation. Kate West, Kaitlin Imai, and Sawyer Garrison traveled across the United States and Northern Ireland to coordinate, produce, and hold interviews and conversations exploring themes of hope, human connection, and community reflection. 

Read more here:  Sharing Stories of Hope through Art & Storytelling 

A Peace of My Mind

In April 2025, John Nolter from A Peace of My Mind (APOMM),our community partner and friend, spend time in residence here at Willamette University. Over the course of a week, Noltner and TCP student interns hosted conversations, gallery tours, and created a studio series exploring conceptions of belonging. APOMM collected stories and created multimedia arts to showcase how members of the Willamette community define and conceptualize radical belonging. 

Read more about the project here:  Willamette University – A Peace of My Mind &  "A Peace of My Mind" Looks to Build Connections in a Divided World

Northern Ireland Summit

In the Summer of 2024, students and faculty from The Conversation Project traveled to Northern Ireland to participate and hold conversations at Corrymeela, a center that fosters mutual understanding and connection through storytelling, meditation, and mediation practices. During their travels across Northern Ireland, students engaged in conversations with individuals sharing their stories and experiences of living through The Troubles, a time of violent sectarian conflict. Throughout the summit, students and community members learned enriching meditation practices and storytelling skills that settled participants bodies and minds into a space suitable for deeply engaged and connective conversation. 

"When you foreground storytelling and invite people to share their lived experiences, that's more effective than starting with divisive topics.” — Kate West BA'26

Read more about the summit here: Bridging Divides and Healing Divisions Across Difference