Differing political perspectives are a part of everyday life, but navigating conversations with those who have different views isn’t always easy. But what if students had the tools to turn those disagreements into meaningful discussions?

At the University of Missouri, the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs is helping Mizzou students develop the skills to make that shift. The effort is part of a national partnership between the Constructive Dialogue Institute, the Volcker Alliance, and thirteen other colleges and universities, including Cornell University, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia.

“The Truman School’s mission is to promote effective public service, democracy and diplomacy,” Lael Keiser, director of the Truman School, said. “The partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute and the Volcker Alliance has helped us create initiatives that give students, future public servants and the broader community skills to use constructive dialogue to solve problems across ideological divides.”