Description of the Academic Paper This paper examines the long-term impact of dialogue-driven strategies for fostering inclusion and systemic transformation within Extension systems. By collecting follow-up data from the “Coming Together for Racial Understanding” initiative launched in 2018, the study evaluates whether changes initiated through facilitated dialogues have persisted. Ripple effect mapping (REM) and online surveys were employed to evaluate changes at four levels: personal, interpersonal, institutional and cultural. The research highlights how training Extension professionals to lead dialogue-based interventions can empower diverse voices, strengthen collaborative networks, and, ultimately, drive structural change. Those changes include becoming comfortable in having conversations at a personal level, developing more diverse relationships at an interpersonal level, making hiring processes more inclusive at an institutional level, and taking action. By presenting practical strategies and evidence-based results, the paper demonstrates how inclusive dialogue can inspire lasting change.
Relation to the Theme and Track The proposed paper aligns with the conference theme, Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities: People, Technology, and Place-based Collaboration, by emphasizing the role of people-driven solutions in fostering innovation and inclusivity. Specifically, the paper contributes to the sub-theme People-Driven Solutions, showcasing how dialogue-driven strategies empower diverse voices to drive sustainable, systemic change. The research highlights findings from the "Coming Together for Racial Understanding" initiative, which trained Extension professionals to lead transformative conversations in their institutions and communities. Through a longitudinal study comparing data from 2021 and 2024 based on an initiative launched in 2018, this paper evaluates the sustainability of inclusive practices and their capacity to address systemic inequities. The findings emphasize the importance of intentional dialogue as a catalyst for structural shifts in organizational culture and community engagement. The paper outlines experiences shared by extension professionals while implementing training for change to embed inclusion and equity within their systems. Results highlighted that development of more diverse relationships, collaboration among different LGUs, examining policies & practices, integrating DEI into institutional practices, and including more voices in decision-making increased from 2021 to 2024. By showcasing the tangible outcomes of these strategies at all four levels, this paper offers actionable insights into how dialogue-based initiatives can drive systemic change.
