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| The Student Network for Inquiry and Dialogue (SNID) began in the summer of 2007 as a network to create, support, and maintain groups with a commitment to two guiding philosophies: |
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| Critical Inquiry |
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| Groups are dedicated to maintaining a space where young people can openly and honestly engage in the elephant-in-the-room topics that affect their lives and their communities. Furthermore, SNID groups are not only spaces for responsible, critical opinion-making, but also spaces for responsible, critical opinion challenging. It is the responsibility of group members and moderators to actively offer up multiple points-of-view, to ensure that ideological difference is given due respect and due validity, and to support initial inquiry with relevant texts, speakers, and continued dialogue. |
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| Intercommunity Dialogue |
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| Groups are also dedicated to having as many different voices and opinions participating in their dialogue as possible. The more perspectives are at the table, the richer the discussion will be. SNID groups are encouraged to be as diverse and representative of the community in which they're engaging; the fulfillment of "intercommunity," is the answer to the question, "who's not at the table?" |
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While community action is sometimes a natural consequence of the process of critical inquiry and intercommunity dialogue, SNID groups are encouraged to maintain a balance between information and action and to work towards broad community
organizing: moving beyond reacting to an issue towards a momentum that must be reacted to: a unified, consistent effort and agenda that includes committed community participation and ownership
advocacy: organizing on behalf of constituencies and communities that are at risk, adversely affected, or disenfranchised
and empowerment: organizing towards building relationships and changing institutions so that all community members can fully participate in their community's leadership and decision-making
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| SNID is a project of the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation, which is based in Oxford, Mississippi at the University of Mississippi. Founded in 1999, the William Winter Institute for Racial Reconciliation builds more inclusive communities by promoting diversity and citizenship, and by supporting projects that help communities solve local challenges. The Winter Institute has helped facilitate the Student Network Inquiry and Dialogue as a way to cultivate inclusive communities at the student level. |
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