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The What Matters conversation series was formed in 2015 to give the º£½ÇÖ±²¥ community an opportunity to talk about issues and topics of importance. The goal of the conversations are to bring different voices into each conversation and have a facilitated discussion that allows participants to learn from one another about their individual perspectives and how those perspectives guide their views on the topic at hand. Each conversation is facilitated by a º£½ÇÖ±²¥ faculty member or a professional facilitator. The conversations usually include a combination of 1:1 or small group discussion as well as a larger town hall-style discussion. Most What Matters Conversations are for º£½ÇÖ±²¥ students, faculty, and staff. However, in special programs, the McKeen Center partners with to host conversations that also bring in Mid Coast community members to share their perspectives as well.

Building Bridges at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Dialogue Program

Building Bridges at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ (BBB) is pilot program in the McKeen Center's What Matters Dialogue Program. Modeled on the Inter Faith Fellows program, the program will bring together an ideologically diverse cohort of 8 students to learn about dialogue and then participate in a series of 4-5 topic-specific dialogues in Fall Semester. In Fall 2025, the topics will primarily be focused on issues related to politics in America, however we welcome and encourage international student participation as well! The program will end with a reflection and a capstone project in early December.

The goals of the program are to provide participants with skills and tools for having conversation across difference, provide an opportunity for you to better understand what others' beliefs are and where they come from, and to engage in critical reflection on your own beliefs and how you communicate them and converse about them with friends, family, and others. 

Participating students must commit to attending and participating in all program sessions:
- Program Retreat: Friday, September 26: 2:30-6:30p 
- Dialogue Sessions, Fridays, 2:30-4p - 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 11/7, 11/14
- Program Reflection: Friday, December 12, 2:30-4p

Upon completion of the program, students who participate in the sessions and complete the capstone project will receive a $250 stipend.