SNF Paideia Program

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SNF Paideia Program

Learn about dialogue, from dialogue, and how to dialogue, towards a goal of individual and societal wellness.

09/18/2026

It’s Friday, so it must be ! 💫

We’re back with another introduction to the newest members of the SNF Paideia community. This week, we’re excited to spotlight five more of our Fellows from the Class of 2029.

Meet:

Julia Wang
Kaovya Vel
Khadijat Adeleye
Lavanya Mani
Lindsey Huahuamullo Papa

Welcome, Paideia Fellows! We’re excited for all that’s ahead!

09/11/2026

Friday is here, and we’re back with !💫

Get to know the newest members of the SNF Paideia community. Today, we’re pleased to spotlight five of our Fellows from the Class of 2029.

This week, meet:

Eirini Antonopoulou
Faye Liu
Gabri Kurtzer-Ellenbogen
Grace Burke
Israel James

Welcome Paideia Fellows! We’re excited you’re here!

09/08/2026

Can empathy change the way we understand political and religious difference?

When people worship and vote differently than we do, what helps us move beyond division toward genuine understanding?

Join Dr. Lia C. Howard and her students as they share research and practical strategies for improving political discourse, engaging across religious differences, and strengthening democratic institutions.

📅 September 9 | 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Gloria Dei Old Swedes Episcopal Church
916 S. Swanson St., Philadelphia
Register at the link in our bio.

Sponsored by Interfaith Philadelphia as part of the Religious Freedom: Then & Now Initiative.

09/04/2026

🎉 Welcome, Class of 2029 SNF Paideia Fellows! We’re so glad you’re here.🎉

A few weeks into the semester, we’re kicking things off with .

Every Friday, we’ll introduce you to members of our newest cohort and give you a chance to get to know the students helping to shape our Paideia community this year.

This week, meet:

Ajay Panday
Alfred Gao
Annie Yao
Asif Haque
Dew Udagedara

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

09/01/2026

Now Accepting Proposals for the Dialogue & Engagement Grant!

Do you have an idea for an event that brings undergraduate students together for meaningful conversations? The SNF Paideia Program invites proposals for programming that actively engages students in dialogue, broadens their perspectives, and creates a supportive environment where they can voice their thoughts, listen to others, and respectfully challenge ideas.

Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis now through April 23, 2027.

Funded by a generous gift from the Class of 1999, this grant supports events, programs, or initiatives that embody SNF Paideia Program values of intentionality, curiosity, humility, and community.

Let’s bring bold ideas to life through dialogue. Apply today at the link in our bio!

08/28/2026

Happy Friday and happy first week of classes! Cafe Paideia is back and open today from 1-3pm in College Hall, G13.

Please drop by to relax and connect (for as long or as little as you like) over tea or hot chocolate and snacks. Featured this week: Dr. Ropp’s famous banana bread muffins with sea salt caramel and chocolate chips. And meet our new Cafe Paideia co-host Dr. Allison Langer!

We'll have coloring pages, origami paper, and picture books out if you don't feel very chatty but would like to be in company.

We also have the Paideia Puzzle Library — borrow a puzzle to do this week or bring an old one by that you've already completed to donate.

Feel free to bring a friend (or two!). Looking forward to seeing you there!

08/26/2026

We’re thrilled to welcome the 2026–2027 SNF Paideia Ambassadors! 🎉

This year’s cohort brings together 15 student leaders representing centers and departments across Penn, each nominated to serve as a liaison between their center and SNF Paideia.

Please join us in welcoming:

Hemanta Adhikari
Sarah Attia
Angel Ayala
Makenna Damhorst
Alison Frazer
Tasmiah Haque
Blake Hudson
Gabriella Jean
Gina Joo
Alexander Kuplicki
Demi Marhule
Fernanda Anaid Portales
Ria Nilesh Rana
Jon-Gabriel Salguero
Aanandi Thakur

Thank you to our campus partners for your participation!

Over the course of their one-year term, our Ambassadors will build skills in facilitation, collaboration, and organization while helping create connections across Penn. Together, they form the SNF Paideia Advisory Board, working to foster dialogue, civic engagement, cross-campus collaboration, and inclusive leadership.

Tap the link in our bio to learn more about the SNF Paideia Ambassador Program.

08/24/2026

Looking for a course that brings new perspectives to your Penn experience?

This semester, choose from 30+ SNF Paideia designated courses across a range of disciplines and all four of Penn’s undergraduate schools.

Select courses this fall include:

🎨 Intercultural Dialogue and Perception
🏛️ American Monuments: The Politics of Historical Memory
🎼 On Belonging: Music, Displacement, and Well-Being
⚠️ Algorithmic Justice

From art and dialogue theory to the intersection of technology and social justice, Paideia designated courses invite you to engage with complex questions, consider different perspectives, and connect ideas across disciplines.

📅 Registration closes September 8.

🔗 Tap the link in our bio to learn more about these and other Paideia designated courses, and register at Path@Penn.

08/19/2026

New this Fall! SNF Paideia’s Forum for Dialogue

No Experts. No Perfect Answers. Just Practice.

The goal isn’t to tell you what to think. It’s to give you a space to practice how to engage. Because better dialogue happens through practice.

Penn undergraduate and graduate students are invited to join the inaugural cohort and earn a Certificate in Interpersonal Dialogue Skills through a 5-week Public Forum for Dialogue, meeting 2 hours per week.

Register by September 24. Invitations for participation will be sent shortly after.

This forum is a place where you can come as you are, engage with different perspectives, and strengthen the skills needed for meaningful conversations across differences. There’s no formal application. You don’t need to be a facilitator, a political expert, or a “perfect communicator.” You simply need a willingness to listen, reflect, and practice.

If you choose to complete all 5 sessions, you could earn a Certificate in Interpersonal Dialogue Skills and, if interested and selected, have the opportunity to facilitate future sessions.

Each semester, we’ll explore a different theme and create opportunities for students to practice dialogue around issues that matter.

Tap the link in our bio to submit your interest form by September 24!

08/12/2026

As you get ready to return to campus, the SNF Paideia team is here to welcome you, and we’re excited to introduce our newest staff member, Zoë Greggs!

Please join us in welcoming Zoë (they/them) as our new Events and Administrative Coordinator. A visual artist, curator, and nonprofit administrator, Zoë brings a wealth of experience from organizations including BlackStar Projects, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Philadelphia's African American Museum, and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, along with a deep commitment to community engagement, storytelling, and systems change.

In their role with SNF Paideia, Zoë will help coordinate program events, support day-to-day operations, assist with financial and grant administration, and ensure our programs continue to provide welcoming spaces for meaningful dialogue across the Penn community. We're excited to have Zoë join our team.

Photo by Naomieh Jovin.

Address

Philadelphia, PA

Telephone

+12158980807

Website

https://snfpaideia.upenn.edu/

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