Newsletter Articles
Permanent link for Class Visit | Recreational Therapy Students Explore the Power of Civil Discourse on October 21, 2025
The Center’s Civil Discourse Network features community and university-based members who support our mission to help GVSU students and area neighbors develop the skills to engage in respectful dialogue and problem-solving across differences. These skills are clearly relevant for students pursuing careers in Recreational Therapy. The need for comfort and confidence in building relationships with diverse clients and their families led Dawn DeVries to invite Network member Stan Greene to her Issues and Trends class for a conversation about civil discourse.
Students reflected on what civil discourse means to them and distinguished between the dialogue at the core of civil discourse compared to the culture of debate that prevails in so many settings. That dialogue seeks to create understanding rather than agreement. Active listening, recognizing a multitude of perspectives, seeking to build relationships, and overcoming the desire to “win” the conversation were a few of the concepts the class explored.
“I catch myself planning what I’m going to say next instead of listening to the person I’m talking with” was one of the honest admissions of things that get in the way of dialogue. And there was also the recognition that we’re not equally invested in all our interactions. Yes, there are barriers to practicing civil discourse. Having a supportive community of practice – and the cohort of Recreational Therapy students is such a community of practice – provides a forum for addressing those barriers, celebrating successes when they occur and establishing mutual accountability for continued growth.
As these future healing professionals prepare to enter diverse and
dynamic settings, principles of civil discourse will equip them to
employ both clinical excellence and conversation to help their clients
experience well-being. The communities in which they’ll live, work and
play will be richer because of their commitment to create mutual
understanding with, and a sense of belonging for, the people they encounter.
Contributed by: Stan Greene, Civil Discourse Network Member