Race Dialogue Project

This student organization explores the many ways that race, class, gender, sexuality, ability and other forms of difference affect the lives of students.  The mission is to encourage dialogue and awareness around these issues, exploring complexity and depth, and creating honest and open environments for discussion. 

Along with interactive workshops, film screenings and current event forums, RDP has explored diversity through programs such as, ‘White Week,’ a series on the cultural meanings of whiteness and privilege,’ and ‘Classopoly:  Playing the Game, or Getting Played?,’ a series on issues of class in the U.S.  RDP explores topics like, “is P.C.   B.S?”,  “Jena 6:  Media Hype or the New Old Racism?”, Black-Asian Relations, Racial Masculinity, “Hip-Hop, Violence and the New Civil Rights”, and much more…  In 2003, RDP also produced a documentary about Race relations at Penn, entitled, ‘The Other Side of Perfect.’

Since it’s inception, The Race Dialogue Project students have designed and facilitated innovative and thought-provoking programs, and have created spaces for discussion and intercultural understanding across campus. Thinking locally and globally, RDP continues to Bridge gaps between Penn students and members of the Greater Philadelphia community; between academia, popular culture and activism, and across generations.  Being a part of the Race Dialogue Project is an opportunity for creativity, for learning facilitation skills and an opportunity to expand the network of students who engage these difficult conversations, programs and intellectual explorations.

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For more information, contact Elissa Buxbaum at (215) 898-3358.