Community Conversations
Community Conversations
Our Community Conversations program leads conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. These discussions help build strong relationships within organizations and among communities.
Whether the people in a group are linked by their work, their place, or their lived experience, every conversation is intended to foster real communication and connection among participants through listening and being heard.
Unlike a lecture-style program (see our Speakers program), a Community Conversation involves the active participation of all audience members throughout the program. Guided by a trained conversation leader, participants explore why they think what they do, share stories with one another, and find common ground.
Organizations in Delaware can apply to host a Community Conversation. See details and available conversation topics below.
Delaware Humanities programs are made possible in part by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these programs do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or Delaware Humanities.
How it Works
Community Conversations are for community organizations, libraries, small and large nonprofits, and other organizations across the state.
You can host a Community Conversation for the public or for a particular group: for example, employees at your workplace, your place of worship, or a community group.
Delaware Humanities trains conversation leaders to facilitate 90-minute conversations on specific topics that are relevant and timely to issues in our communities. Organizations then request to host these conversations with support from Delaware Humanities.
Community Conversations are best for groups of between 10 and 25. We suggest aiming for 15-20 registered attendees, keeping in mind that not everyone may be able to make it on the day of the event.
Host organizations request a Community Conversation and pay a small fee (discounted for non-profits) to Delaware Humanities to host the program. Delaware Humanities pays the Speaker an honorarium for their presentation and mileage for their travel. Any non-profit is welcome to apply to host a speaker at a fee of $75. For-profit organizations are also welcome to host a speaker at a fee of $150.
Community Conversation programs must serve residents of Delaware. They must either 1) be open to members of the public, or 2) serve a group of students or the staff of a nonprofit or school. Host organizations cannot charge attendees to participate in a Community Conversation.
How to Apply
Select a program for your audience. You should allot 90 minutes for the program. Community Conversations include audience participation and questions throughout the program, so there is no need to allot time for a Q&A at the end.
Once you have chosen a Community Conversation from our catalogue, contact the conversation leader directly using the “Contact a Conversation Leader” button. Set a time and date that works for your site and for the conversation leader and go over all that leader’s specific technology needs for your chosen conversation.
Create/ login to your Foundant account. This is the platform used to apply for any Delaware Humanities program or grant. For steps to create a Foundant account, click here.
Fill out and submit the Community Conversation Request Application on Foundant. Requests must be received at least four weeks before the intended date of your program. Note that your application will be rejected if you have any outstanding paperwork or payments due to Delaware Humanities. Please note that funding is limited, and we cannot guarantee that all requests we receive in a year can be accommodated.
Digitally sign the Conversation Agreement. You will be prompted by email to sign this document after your application has been submitted and approved. Failure to comply with the grant agreement will result in denial of future requests.
Submit your payment to Delaware Humanities via check. Mail to 100 W 10th St, Suite 509, Wilmington DE, 19801. Fees are $75 for federally registered nonprofits and $150 for other organizations. (Check your nonprofit status, if you are unsure.)
You have scheduled your program! See the next section for steps to successfully plan and execute your event and finish your reporting to us.
Once a Program is Booked
If indicated in the application, Delaware Humanities lists the program on our website. Host organizations should also advertise their event in their community. Do not advertise your program before you receive approval and sign the presentation agreement.
In exchange for our sponsorship and promotional assistance, we expect hosts to credit Delaware Humanities in promotional materials and tell the audience that Delaware Humanities sponsored the program. For example, at the start of the program please say “This program is made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at dehumanities.org.” Please spell out “Delaware Humanities” in all announcements. Use our logo on any physical or digital promotional materials you create—our logo is in the host toolkit.
Contact Delaware Humanities and your conversation leader immediately if there is ANY change in your program. If you must change the place, date, or time, call us at 302-657-0650, ext. 2, and email info@dehumanities.org. We will post cancellation and rescheduling information on our website and social media, as applicable. Alert your presenter, community, and media outlets as far in advance as possible with changes. Post notice of any change at the venue.
At least one week before the date of your Community Conversation program, contact your conversation leader again to confirm all details. Whether the program is virtual or in-person, it is the responsibility of the host organization to communicate with the Speaker about their technological needs for the program. Delaware Humanities will not provide any technological resources or assistance.
Print and hand out Audience Evaluation forms to attendees. Collect these at the end of the program and return them to Delaware Humanities by mail or email. If the program is virtual, provide the link to audience members to the digital evaluation for virtual programs. Log in to your Foundant account (online) and complete the Program Coordinator Evaluation form within one week of your program.
Host Resources
Creating an Account on Foundant – PDF and Video Instructions
Follow-up Forms on Foundant – PDF and Video Instructions (Note: the video shows Grant follow up forms, however the process for accessing and submitting your follow forms is the same)