The Conversation Project — Oregon Humanities

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What Is the Conversation Project?

The Conversation Project brings people together to talk about their beliefs and experiences around timely and important issues and ideas through reflective conversations.

Reflective conversations are framed, yet open-ended dialogue about ideas. Instead of focusing on coming to consensus, finding solutions, or debating an argument, the goals of reflective conversation are exploration, learning through listening, and building community.

Benefits of engaging in reflective conversation include opportunities to:

think about—and rethink—your own beliefs
build community and trust
gain understanding of a variety of perspectives
strengthen how we work and live together
help you make stronger connections and commitments to the issues that affect your communities

"I think that people were challenged to step outside of their comfort zone and be open to their own thoughts and feelings as well as open to sharing with others."
—A Conversation Project host

How It Works

Oregon Humanities trains facilitators to lead reflective conversations on topics of their choosing. Organizations then request to host these 90-minute conversations in their communities with support from Oregon Humanities.

Oregon Humanities pays for the facilitator’s honorarium, transportation, and food. When a facilitator travels more than 100 miles each way for an in-person event, the host organization must offer to provide one night of commercial lodging. If your organization pays for lodging, you may adjust the host fee to compensate for the cost.

Oregon Humanities has limited funds available to cover lodging in cases where the cost of lodging poses a barrier for a host organization. Please check our Conversation Project catalog to see where the conversation facilitator will be traveling from.

"[The facilitator] made this space very comfortable and welcoming, making it easy for people to want to share and engage. The folks in this space came from very different experiences. There were some beautiful moments of connection and sharing. People were vulnerable and gave of themselves."
—A Conversation Project host

Here's the process:

Apply
- Take a look at our catalog. You can apply to host up to three events at a time. On the application, indicate how much your organization can pay to host per event (between $0 and $600). The amount you can pay will not affect whether your application is approved. We’ll notify you of approval within two weeks. Apply Now.
Connect with the Conversation Project leader
- Once you receive an approval email from us, contact the Conversation Project leader to schedule a date and time for the community conversation, then get back in touch with us to let us know the details.
Setup and outreach for your event
- Your organization is responsible for setup, outreach, and production of these conversations. Virtual conversations must be held on Zoom or a similar platform that allows people to see and talk with each other in large and small groups. You’ll receive resources and materials from us to support you in promoting your event.
Host the conversation
- Someone from your organization is required to attend the conversation. We hope this person welcomes participants, instructs them how to sign in or makes note of which registered participants show up, and talks about Oregon Humanities and the Conversation Project. If your conversation is virtual, we ask that someone from your organization support the Conversation Project leader with technical needs such as breakout rooms and screen sharing.
Follow up with Oregon Humanities
- After the event, invite participants to complete the Oregon Humanities evaluation survey. Then share attendee names and email addresses with Oregon Humanities, complete a host evaluation, and pay your invoice.

Conversation Project Catalog

Click here to open the catalog in a new window. If you see a program you want to host, use this form to request a conversation in your community.

Custom/Expanded Conversations

Any topic in our catalog can be adapted into a multipart conversation held over the course of several days or weeks, which is a separate process than our regular Conversation Project offerings. The cost to host an expanded conversation depends on the labor required to adapt the conversation. To explore this option, please visit the Custom Trainings and Conversations page and review the Custom Conversations section, or contact Jennifer Alkezweeny at jennifer@oregonhumanities.org.

Questions? Contact our programs team at programs@oregonhumanities.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Conversation Project events. To view each answer, simply click on the question.

1. What kinds of organizations can apply?

All! Oregon Humanities partners with community organizations, small and large nonprofits, universities, community colleges, government agencies, corporations, and others around the state to host Conversation Project events.

2. How many people can participate in these community conversations?

Community conversations are best for groups of between seven and twenty-five. If you are opening the conversation to the general public (rather than convening a group of people where you know that date works for most), you can probably allow upward of fifty people to register, knowing that you can count on closer to twenty-five to actually attend the conversation.

3. Who can participate in these conversations?

You can host a Conversation Project program for the general public or for a particular group: people at your workplace, your place of worship, or a community you serve. Making conversations open to the public helps bring in new and perhaps different perspectives.

4. Can I record this conversation?

No. Our Conversation Project leaders create a space for participants to share their personal stories and experiences, and we want participants to be able to fully show up without feeling they should censor themselves. Recording can change interpersonal and group dynamics.

5. What if my organization doesn’t have a virtual platform to host a Conversation Project event?

You can use ours! On the application, you can request temporary use of our Zoom account.

6. What if I want to host a virtual conversation but the conversation is only available in-person?

Each of our facilitators decides which formats they prefer. Unfortunately, if the conversation is labeled as in-person only, that conversation is not available for a virtual event. If you’d like to explore options for customization of a conversation, please contact Jennifer Alkezweeny at jennifer@oregonhumanities.org.

7. What if I cannot afford to cover the cost of lodging for a Conversation Project leader who is traveling more than one hundred miles one-way?

Oregon Humanities has limited funds available to cover lodging in cases where the cost of lodging poses a barrier for a host organization. Please take into account whether you are paying for lodging and adjust the host fee as you see fit—pay less if you need to. On the application you’ll have a chance to let us know that you want to request support to cover the cost, and we’ll contact you to discuss further.

8. Can I charge a fee?

No. We want these events to be free for your community. If you need to pay a smaller host fee, that’s OK. Please keep that in mind as you indicate how much your organization is able to pay per program on the application form.

9. I’m concerned about “Zoom bombing.” What should I do?

Only give registered participants the link to access your event by directing potential participants to a registration page to sign up for your event, instead of broadcasting the direct link to the event widely.

Additional Questions? Contact our programs team at programs@oregonhumanities.org.

The Conversation Project is made possible thanks to the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Kinsman Foundation, NW Natural, and The Standard.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Oregon Humanities.

Resources for Conversation Project Hosts

Tips, timelines, and materials for organizations hosting Conversation Project events