When asked why she chose a World Café format to conclude the pilot year of the Community and Racial Equity Leadership (CREL) Fellowship, Dr. Aliya Durham didn’t hesitate. “Rather than the usual end-of-program student posters we’re accustomed to in higher education,” she shared, “I wanted to invite people into a conversation—one where learning is shared, not displayed.” The Café, held at the Homewood CEC, brought together students, faculty, nonprofit leaders, and alumni for an experience rooted in mutuality, trust, and reflection.
Large posters became tablecloths, colored markers topped tables, and electric tea lights flickered as symbols of warmth and welcome. Playing on the café theme, Durham created coffee house rules and a menu to encourage creativity as participants enjoyed fresh fruit, desserts, and coffee sourced by local businesses. Participants rotated through three rounds of dialogue focused on expectations, impact, collaboration, lessons learned, and areas for improvement—guided by prompts designed to spark insight and deepen connection. “People showed up with curiosity and courage,” Durham noted. “They took a risk to try something new in order to do something that’s become routine in more meaningful ways.”
Looking ahead, Durham views this model not as a one-time event, but as an evolving practice of co-creation and accountability. “Our notes—doodles, quotes, half-formed thoughts—will be transcribed, shared and reviewed with partners, and used to strengthen our collective work,” she explained. “This wasn’t just a reflection space. It was a tool for alignment, for institutional learning, for relationship building, and for nurturing a community of practice committed to equity, healing, and justice.” As future cohorts of the CREL Fellowship emerge, so too will the power of collective dialogue as a catalyst for change.