We invited New Yorkers to a panel discussion about a good society and belonging. We used the “Timeout Dialogue” as basis for the conversation and gathered the results to our on-going research on how to build better, more sustainable and inclusive societies.
Timeout Dialogue is a facilitated discussion method designed to create constructive, equal-footed conversations between people from different backgrounds. Rather than aiming for consensus or debate, Timeout brings people together in a structured, reflective space where everyone can speak from personal experience and deepen mutual understanding. The method emphasizes listening, respect, openness, and shared reflection, with ground rules that help participants engage in a way that fosters trust and inclusion.
Timeout isn’t a negotiation tool or a decision-making process in itself; its value lies in raising understanding and revealing new insights by inviting voices that are often left out of public discussion. It gives participants time and space to pause, consider, and reflect — and can be adapted to topics ranging from social change and community belonging to complex policy questions.
By integrating Timeout Dialogue into public conversation, we not only gathered perspectives on belonging but also practiced a form of collective sense-making that strengthens empathy, inclusion, and unpredictably rich insight into how people actually think and feel. These are the kinds of narrative patterns that matter for building better, more sustainable, and more inclusive societies.
