Office of the President
Dear Chautauqua Dialogue Facilitators,
April 15, 2023
I write to offer a warm welcome to the thirty-two new facilitators and over fifty returning facilitators who will be facilitating dialogues during the 2023 season. You have my support and gratitude for being an integral part of this cherished program!
The Chautauqua Dialogues program has been a value-added experience for our patrons throughout its many iterations over the past 16 years or so. The program has offered opportunities for Chautauquans of all beliefs, ages, lived experiences, ideologies and perspectives to come together in the shared spirit of mutual understanding and growth. Participants are drawn to this program because it affords them the opportunity to discuss the big ideas presented from the various lecture platforms across the week and, specifically, to be in conversation with their peers. This is not simply an intellectual exercise but also one that builds community. It is precisely these kinds of interactions that make Chautauqua a special place and keep our patrons coming back year after year.
I also think it is important to situate these dialogues in the context of our larger society. At a time when our country, cities and neighborhoods are deeply divided, there are few opportunities available for us to discuss contemporary issues in a thoughtful, engaged and contemplative fashion. I believe that many people either only discuss issues within their own echo-chambers or avoid controversial issues because they might give rise to disagreement, opposition, or critique. In essence, as a society, we have largely lost our ability to talk to others. This is where the Chautauqua Dialogues hold tremendous promise – to show that a different path is possible. I believe that many Chautauquans will be inspired by their experience this summer, and that they will take the content of what they learned, along with their dialogue skills, back to their home communities. It is precisely this sort of work that will help heal the wounds of our society and transform our collective lives.
I am delighted to share that the Institution is working closely with the leadership of the Chautauqua Dialogues program to further promote and enhance the presence of this program for the 2023 season. Last year, we introduced a new web-presence for the program on the Institution’s website (www.chq.org/dialogue), unveiled a new logo for the program, made additions to the program offerings, and provided more focused and timely reminders for our audiences to participate in the dialogues. In addition to continuing those efforts, we are working on new initiatives modeled after the “Red Bench Project”, providing dialogue journals, and creating opportunities for participants to discuss action steps as part of CHQ Dialogues! All of this is possible because of the tireless efforts of Roger Doebke and Lynn Stahl, the lead volunteer coordinators for this program. I am deeply grateful for their efforts, vision and
leadership. Additionally, I am grateful to Amit Taneja, Senior VP and Chief IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) Officer, for lifting up the Chautauqua Dialogues in the Institution’s recently released IDEA strategic plan (see www.chq.org/idea). Last, but not least, I am grateful for the continued efforts of Melissa Spas, Vice President for Religion, for being a champion of this program. I would be remiss if I did not mention and publicly thank Maureen Rovegno, our recently retired Director of Religion, whose foresight and steadfast commitment to dialogue co-created the original “Interfaith Dialogue” program that has since evolved into the dialogue program that we offer today.
Please know that I am deeply grateful to each one of you – for giving of your time and talents to facilitate these dialogues, for the intellectual and thoughtful conversations that will emerge, and, most importantly, the community that you will help build and transform over the coming season. I look forward to hearing more about your successes and impact.
All my best,
Michael E. Hill President, Chautauqua Institution