The Difficult Dialogues Fellows are an integral part of our project, working as teaching assistants to the Dialogue Seminar; developing public events related to our symposia; and researching the potentials for, and impacts of, dialogue throughout our community. As our project enters its third year, the Fellows play an important role in our continued efforts to encourage a culture of dialogue both on and off Clark's campus.
A senior at Clark, Hannah is a double major in Spanish and International Development and Social Change (IDCE). She was accepted to Clark as a Making a Difference (MAD) Scholar, recognized for her outstanding commitment to community service. Caruso has been involved with the City of Worcester Office of Human Rights and in bringing dialogue to city government. She is also the recipient of an AmeriCorps Education Award. Caruso spent her spring semester abroad in the Dominican Republic studying community development.
This summer, Hannah was awarded a Steinbrecher research scholarship to study the relationship between dialogue and community organizing as an intern for EPOCA (Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement) – the Worcester-based non-profit that provides resources and opportunities for ex-prisoners to become involved in progressive causes that concern their community.
One of the many aspects of EPOCA's community organizing is to encourage members to share their experiences honestly, with eachother and the greater public, through "One-to-Ones"– a dialogic method which is a vital tool for organizers throughout the country. As part of her work, Hannah conducted five interviews with members of EPOCA, who relate their experience participating in One-to-Ones in this short film.
Abhishek Raman is a senior at Clark, where he double majors in Sociology and Government and International Relations. He was accepted to Clark as a Presidential Scholar, recognized for his academic achievements and personal qualities. Since coming to campus, Abhishek has been instrumental in founding the South Asian Students Association and its various initiatives and is currently the President of the Clark Undergraduate Student Council. This semester he received the Thomas M. Dolan '62 Outstanding Service Award at the Fall Convocation.