Third Annual DeLTA Conference
The Next 250
Developing the Next Generation of Americans as Civic Change Makers
The third annual Depolarization Labs & Trainers Alliance (DeLTA) Conference, co-hosted by George Mason University’s PiVoT Peace Lab, George Washington University’s Media and Peacebuilding Project, the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication, and the Alliance for Peacebuilding, brings together students, scholars, practitioners, and nonprofit leaders from across the country to explore one of the most consequential challenges facing American democracy: how we build the civic capacity in the next generation to bridge deep divides, reduce toxic polarization, and sustain strong democratic institutions for the next 250 years.
This is more than a conversation about polarization. It is an opportunity to discover what’s working now—and what’s coming next.
Attendees will explore innovative programs, emerging research, and practical approaches for bringing people and communities together across differences. They’ll connect directly with leading researchers and practitioners, learn from successful campus and community initiatives, and meet students and emerging leaders who want to turn ideas into action. The conference will feature:
Innovative programs and proven approaches
From nationally respected universities and organizations working to bridge divides, strengthen dialogue, and build more resilient communities—with an eye toward expanding successful models into a stronger nationwide network.
Direct access to practitioners and organizations
One-on-one conversations with peacebuilding labs, nonprofits, and other leaders offering opportunities for learning, collaboration, and involvement.
Cutting-edge research from emerging scholars
New ideas examining the causes of polarization and developing promising approaches for addressing it.
Connections that can lead to action
Established national leaders, rising professionals, and students committed to strengthening communities and finding new ways for Americans to work across differences.
A growing national network of bridge-builders
Committed to equipping the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to strengthen our democracy and advance a shared vision of unity, opportunity, and prosperity for all.
Schedule
Friday, October 30 · All times Eastern
Sessions & Speakers
Welcome to the 2026 DeLTA Conference
Randy Lioz
Director, DeLTA; Associate Director, PiVoT Peace Lab, George Mason University
Randy leads lab activities and events for PiVoT at the Carter School, where he earned his MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He is also a long-time moderator and former staff member at Braver Angels, where he began his bridging career.
What Is a Depolarization Lab?
What They Do and What They’ve Learned
Researchers from university labs and programs present their work on polarization and how to address it, followed by audience Q&A. Moderated by Babak Bahador.
Dr. Babak Bahador
Director, Institute for Public Diplomacy & Global Communication; Media & Peacebuilding Project; Research Professor, School of Media & Public Affairs, George Washington University
Babak holds a PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He will moderate the panel of university lab research presentations.
Dr. Michael Becker
Senior Researcher, The Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL), American University
Michael studies the factors behind support for violent extremism and how to evaluate programs that prevent it. He will present PERIL’s research on public health–informed interventions, including “prebunking.”
Antti Pentikäinen
Professor of Practice and Director, The Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, George Mason University
Antti is a former special envoy for Finland’s Prime Minister and former executive director of Finn Church Aid. He will present research on post-conflict reconciliation processes and how international insights apply in the U.S., drawn from his upcoming book How Nations Heal.
Dr. Derek Goldman
Artistic and Executive Director, The Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics; Professor of Theater and Performance Studies, Georgetown University
Derek is an award-winning, internationally recognized theater artist, scholar, and educator whose work explores the power of performance to foster empathy, connection, and care across differences. He created In Your Shoes™, a performance-based practice of deep listening and trust-building that has engaged thousands of participants in more than 25 countries.
Zhuqing Ding
Associate Director for Online Programs, Georgetown University; The Laboratory for Global Performance & Politics, Georgetown University; Adjunct Professor, GW School of Business; Doctoral Candidate, George Washington University
Zhuqing is a scholar-practitioner with more than a decade of experience in learning design, pedagogy, and scholarship, and a doctoral candidate in Human and Organizational Learning at the George Washington University. Her research focuses on transformative learning, experiential and arts-based pedagogy, and leadership studies.
Building Bridges on Campus
A Faculty Roundtable
Faculty who have built depolarization courses and campus programs discuss what they teach, how it works, and what it takes to get it implemented.
Dr. Supriya Baily
Associate Dean, Carter School for Peace & Conflict Resolution, George Mason University
Supriya is a professor of international and comparative education. Her research examines gender, education, and empowerment, with fieldwork in India and Indonesia.
Craig Diamond
Adjunct Faculty, Sacred Heart University
Craig is also co-chair of the Braver Angels Connecticut Alliance and a Fairfield, Connecticut town legislator. He built an undergraduate curriculum and will discuss the challenges of implementing it.
Dr. Eric Hamilton
Jan and Robert Davidson Endowed Professor of Education and Technology, Graduate School of Education & Psychology, Pepperdine University
Eric researches digital media and project-based learning that connects adolescents in virtual makerspace across countries on several continents. He previously served as a division director at the National Science Foundation and as a senior program officer at UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education.
Rachel Milner-Gillers
Director, The Conflict Transformation Lab, Georgetown University
Rachel is an Associate Professor of the Practice at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She will discuss the lab’s student training work and her urban-rural bridging curriculum.
Dr. Mark Urista
Speech Communication Faculty, Linn-Benton Community College
Mark advises the college’s Civil Discourse Program and was lead designer of the Braver Angels Curricular Toolkit. He will discuss campus programs run with the ACTA/BA College Debates and Discourse program.
Keynote: Liz Hume
Liz Hume
Executive Director, Alliance for Peacebuilding; Adjunct Professor, Carter School, George Mason University
Liz is an international lawyer and conflict expert with more than 20 years of leadership across government, multilateral institutions, and NGOs. She has overseen peacebuilding and governance programs in conflict-affected states in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and has led the Alliance for Peacebuilding since 2015.
Panel 3: Building Digital Resilience
Navigating Political Conflict in the Digital Age
Presented by the GW Media & Peacebuilding Project. A discussion of digital disinformation and its impact on polarization, with breakouts offering skills and tools for countering these effects.
Anna Sabriá
Event Coordinator, Institute for Public Diplomacy & Global Communication, George Washington University
Anna is an MA candidate in Global Communication at GW’s Elliott School and an award-winning public speaker. She has interned with the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas and the Cato Institute.
Rebecca Besant
Chief of Staff, Search for Common Ground
Rebecca has two decades of nonprofit leadership, including more than 15 years working overseas in conflict-affected contexts. At Search for Common Ground she served as Regional Director for Central and East Africa, Senior Director of Program Effectiveness, and Regional Director for Latin America, and she was Executive Director of Preemptive Love.
Theo Dolan
Senior Advisor, Information Disorder, BBC Media Action
Theo has about two decades of experience in media, technology, and peacebuilding. He has led international efforts against disinformation and hate speech and specializes in media literacy for youth.
Adam Fivenson
Chief Democracy Officer, New Democracy Studio
Adam researches how to counter authoritarian information manipulation, with a focus on civil society, and has designed civic-technology tools for local governments in Latin America and Central Asia.
Closing
Events, Tools and Continuing the Work
Post-Event Skills Workshops
From nonprofits, in person and online
Our co-hosts
Join us October 30
In person at GW’s Elliott School in Washington, DC, or virtually via Zoom.