Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), situated in Manhattan, is one of the US's premier policy schools. Yet students rarely get the opportunity to break out of the liberal academic bubble to see what policymaking looks like in Red and Purple America. For this reason, the group policy::dialogue is organzing its second annual Dialogue Weekend, bringing a delegation of 15 students to meet with policymakers and community members in the rural counties outside of Philadelphia.

That's where you come in! So that the trip is accessible for all members of the student body, we're seeking donations to make it fully funded. At a total cost of $4,500 for lodging, food and travel  ($300 per student), your donations will go a long way to helping a future generation of policymakers learn to engage constructively with challenging and opposing viewpoints. 

Our first Dialogue Weekend took SIPA students to Syracuse, NY, where we met with Mayor Stephanie Miner, local businessowners, faith-based community leaders, and other residents of upstate New York. The trip helped students engage in political empathy, connecting us with perspectives from across the political spectrum. You can read more about the impact of our trip here and here .