Southwest Initiative Foundation staff has been charged to build trust with, listen to, and work alongside and with new immigrant and refugee leaders in creating systemic approaches to address issues of racial diversity, equity and inclusion. SWIF believes that being shut out of community and civic life is the most pervasive structural barrier to achieving racial equity. Over the last two semesters, the DSD Clinic has been working with SWIF to create a framework and Facilitation Guide for community conversations in Southwest Minnesota that use shared values to bridge divides, by educating and engaging stakeholders in thoughtful conversations around race and equity, helping shift negative perceptions of tribal communities, recent immigrants, people of color, and working poor. This work will continue this spring.