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We were brought on to facilitate PA Dignity Day, the statewide celebration of Global Dignity Day, hosted in partnership between Penn State Outreach and the State College Borough. The day included multiple events, and more than 275 people participated in intentional conversations rooted in dignity.
Our involvement spanned the full experience, from designing the gathering to producing the custom materials that carried the conversations.
what we did
- Guided the overall experience design of the gathering
- Designed and produced custom dignity-themed conversation cards
- Facilitated an outdoor World Café in conjunction with a pop-up food-truck block party
- Designed an interactive live print mosaic that participants completed throughout the day
how we did it
Dignity Day Luncheon
PA Dignity Day commenced with a luncheon titled “Dignity in Divided Times” at the State College Municipal Building. Dr. Donna Hicks — an expert conflict mediator and creator of the dignity model — delivered the keynote, giving borough employees, community leaders, and Penn State students, faculty, and staff practical techniques for managing local dynamics. Throughout the talk, participants sparked conversations with one another using the custom dignity-themed question cards we designed for the event, and a group conversation afterward explored how to apply dignity principles to real situations in the community.
Engaging the community in dialogue
Later in the day, the event moved to a community-wide dialogue in downtown State College, where more than 200 people participated. Set against the lively backdrop of a DJ and local food trucks, we facilitated a World Café that encouraged participants to move between tables and meet their neighbors across multiple rounds of conversation. Because of the block-party energy, many joined simply because they walked by and were curious. Attendees frequently remarked how the environment let them share openly with people they’d just met, and that the whole evening felt like a much-needed bonding experience between neighbors. The event also generated real excitement from local media, spreading the message well beyond those in attendance.
Interactive and collaborative mosaic
To deepen the sense of community, we designed a live-print mosaic. On arrival, each attendee received a discussion card and a photo of a community member to add to a growing mural. As the evening progressed and each photo was placed, an image of the state of Pennsylvania emerged. This visual representation of the day’s conversations and the shared commitment to dignity was a tangible way for everyone to leave their mark.
