ABOUT STUDY CIRCLES
What is Dialogue?
Our Vision and Mission
What is Dialogue?
YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE!
The principle of dialogue in organizing, engagement, and equity work refers to intentional forms of conversation that are used to improve mutual understanding, appreciation, and respect among the diverse individuals and groups in our communities.
While many forms of dialogue occur in-person and through “face-to-
YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE!
The principle of dialogue in organizing, engagement, and equity work refers to intentional forms of conversation that are used to improve mutual understanding, appreciation, and respect among the diverse individuals and groups in our communities.
While many forms of dialogue occur in-person and through “face-to-face” interactions, telecommunication technologies have created new opportunities for engagement in safe online platforms that will allow us to mediate dialogue among individuals and groups who may be located anywhere in the community.
Our dialogues create a forum in which each participant is welcome and encouraged to participate, and in which diverse viewpoints can be shared without fear of social intimidation or repercussions.
The dialogues are open to the public and any community member is welcome to attend, particularly when the topics being discussed affect a community.
Facilitation is essential to the success of a dialogue process. Facilitators provide the conversational structure, establish ground rules, promote equitable participation, and ensure that the process and discussions remain on topic, and productive, while ensuring that participants behave respectfully toward one another, and that everyone involved feels safe, welcomed and heard..
At the conclusion of the dialogue, participants are encouraged to reflect on the next steps to changing their communities, while providing useful feedback to organizers and facilitators on how to improve the dialogue process going forward.
Our History
Our Vision and Mission
What is Dialogue?
May 2020
Study Circles Aurora founded by Cathy Gaddis, Aurora, IL.
July 7, 2020
Dr. Vincent R. Gaddis
Named Director of Strategic Development, Planning and Partnership Relations.
Cathy Gaddis
Named Executive Director of
Study Circles Illinois/Aurora/Elgin
July 23, 2020
Review for filing of 501 (3) C begun
November 2020
Received Not-For-Profit
May 2020
Study Circles Aurora founded by Cathy Gaddis, Aurora, IL.
July 7, 2020
Dr. Vincent R. Gaddis
Named Director of Strategic Development, Planning and Partnership Relations.
Cathy Gaddis
Named Executive Director of
Study Circles Illinois/Aurora/Elgin
July 23, 2020
Review for filing of 501 (3) C begun
November 2020
Received Not-For-Profit status
from the State of Illinois
November 2020
Study Circles Aurora placed under
the umbrella organization
Study Circles Illinois
November 2020
Study Circles Illinois Founded
November 2020
Study Circles Elgin Founded
Under the umbrella organization
Study Circles Illinois
June 6, 2021
Study Circles Illinois becomes
Anchor Partner with
Every Day Democracy
October 2022
Study Circles Espanol Dialogue Groups
Study Circles Illinois has begun hosting
all Spanish Speaking Dialogue Groups
in partnership with the Gail Borden Library
in Elgin, IL
Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision and Mission
Our Vision and Mission
Our vision is to strive to provide a platform through which our community can connect, through dialogue, regarding critical issues and with the goal of becoming a model for people of different races, ethnic groups and backgrounds to form relationships and be enabled to participate fully in our community’s economic, political, civic, educa
Our vision is to strive to provide a platform through which our community can connect, through dialogue, regarding critical issues and with the goal of becoming a model for people of different races, ethnic groups and backgrounds to form relationships and be enabled to participate fully in our community’s economic, political, civic, educational and cultural future in a productive way.
Our Mission is to bring the forum of public talk to everyone in our community and assist the community and companies to organize by bringing all kinds of people to the table using Dialogue to Change.
By utilizing and implementing the Every-Day Democracy. Dialogue to Change Process Study Circle Aurora seeks to re-vitalize the dialogue process in Aurora, IL and our mission is to develop a model that would contribute to racial dialogue in our community and allow the dialogue to be sustained for the next generation.
We will be bring people together from all backgrounds, to attend community conversations about racism and other critical issues which may be affecting our community.
We will facilitate and support deeper discussions on race, racism, and racial equity by addressing critical community issues.
We will work to engage communities in dialogue and problem solving and provide opportunities for citizen empowerment by giving the participants a safe place to talk about their concerns for their communities and their desire to find a way to move forward.
We believe that communities of every size and demographics need routine opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds to dialogue with each other and with public officials, and to have a voice in decision making, in order to work together for stronger communities.
About Us
WHAT IS EVERYDAY DEMOCRACY?
Study Circles Illinois, in partnership with Everyday Democracy
is on a mission to bring people together,
to lift up the voices of those who have been oppressed,
and to advance the pace of progress towards justice.
We believe that we will move forward,
not with the patience of those who would delay justice,
but, with the persistence of those who are desperate for it.
The ultimate goal is to create positive community change
that includes everyone's voice! .
SIGN UP FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE
From dialogues on police-community relations,
ending racism, to Youth Cultural Exchanges
and conversations on education equity
in the public school system and community colleges,
the Everyday Democracy has been successfully building bridges
of understanding throughout the community,
Here are some of the areas of dialogue
WITHOUT YOUR VOICE...
To have effective community conversations,
it is important to get as many different kinds of people
involved as possible. If things are really going to change,
don’t you believe that you need to be part of the dialogue?
Dialogues create opportunities for participants to
collaboratively explore options, generate ideas,
propose solutions, and—importantly—own the outcomes
and decisions that result from the process.
When stakeholders are left out of important community decisions that affect them and their families,
they are more likely to question the decisions,
be skeptical of motives, or resent
being left out of the process.
Now is the time for you to talk
about the issues you see in your community.
Now is the time for you to dialogue on critical issues.
our current strategic partners in the dialogue for change
GAIL BORDEN LIBRARY
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
AURORA TOWNSHIP
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
WE NEED EDUCATION PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CORPORATE PARTNERS
WE NEED CIVIC & GOVEMENTAL PARTNERS
WE NEED CORPORATE PARTNERS
BE A PART OF THE CHANGE!
CHANGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY CAN ONLY HAPPEN
WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE DIALOGUE.
JOIN THE CIRCLE NOW!