Foundations of Dialogue Series

The MBBI Dialogue Club is a global community of practice where participants strengthen their dialogue skills, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections across cultures, perspectives, and regions.

The Club launches with the Foundations of Dialogue Series, a three-session facilitated over ZOOM experience designed to explore the fundamentals of dialogue practice. Participants will examine how dialogue differs from other forms of communication, including monologue, debate, and meetings; explore what happens when conversations become difficult, polarized, or stuck; and discover the conditions and facilitation practices that help meaningful dialogue emerge.

This is not a traditional workshop or training program. Rather, it is a facilitated dialogue experience where participants learn through conversation, reflection, shared inquiry, and engagement with one another. Each 90-minute session builds upon the previous session, creating a cohesive foundation for learning and practicing dialogue while developing the mindsets, skills, and confidence needed to engage more effectively across differences.

Participants who complete all three sessions may be eligible to receive credits toward the MBBI Global Peacebuilder Certificate.

Following the Foundations Series, the Dialogue Club will continue as an ongoing community of practice, offering monthly gatherings focused on advanced dialogue topics, facilitated dialogue practice, and timely issues that matter in our communities and around the world.

Program Details

• Facilitator: Meltem Kilicaslan
• Format: Three-Part Online Interactive Dialogue Series
• Dates & Time: November 2, 9, and 16 | Mondays, 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET
  Please use the Time Zone Converter to determine when this training will be in your time zone.
• Investment: Bundle price for all three sessions: $99 USD (MBBI Members) | $150 USD (Non-Members)
• Register here.

Session Topics

Session 1: Foundations of Dialogue

Explore what dialogue is, how it differs from monologue, discussion, debate, and meetings, and why it matters in today’s world.

Session 2: What Gets in the Way of Dialogue?

Examine the common barriers that prevent meaningful dialogue and explore how conversations can be guided from monologue, debate, or polarization toward genuine dialogue.

Session 3: Creating the Conditions for Dialogue

Discover the conditions, practices, and facilitation approaches that help dialogue emerge, deepen, and thrive across differences.

Registration includes access to the complete three-session Foundations of Dialogue Series. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions to gain the full benefit of the learning experience and community dialogue practice.

Bio of the Facilitator:

Meltem Kilicaslan is a Facilitator, Qualified Mediator (Q.Med – ADR Institute of Ontario), and Rotary Peace Fellow with a focus on organizational harmony, conflict transformation, trust restoration, and leadership alignment in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments. She designs and facilitates dialogue processes, and leadership trainings that support organizations in navigating conflict, strengthening governance, and building durable collaboration. Her work integrates conflict mapping, relational intelligence, and human‑centered dialogue design to address root causes and foster constructive engagement across difference. Meltem has led large‑scale dialogue initiatives and advisory processes within academic and institutional settings, supporting leadership bodies and diverse communities through structured conversations, workshops focused on strategic planning, communication, and collaborative capacity. In addition to her mediation and facilitation practice, she serves in advisory and subject‑matter expert roles with national and international networks advancing peacebuilding, mediation, women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. A former Founder and CEO, Meltem brings strong strategic and commercial insight to her peace work, enabling her to bridge organizational realities with human and cultural dimensions. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Manitoba, is fluent in English, Turkish, and holds dual Canadian and Turkish citizenship.