Dangerous Love and the Search for Peace at USU

What does it mean to practice “dangerous love”? On Friday, Nov. 22, Utah State University’s Heravi Peace Institute hosted its first workshop on this topic, led by conflict resolution expert and Associate Professor Chad Ford.

Based on Ford’s book, “Dangerous Love: Transforming Fear and Conflict at Home, at Work, and in the World,” the two-hour workshop brought together 50 USU students, staff and faculty, as well as community members. Held in the new Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center's Tanner Pavilion, the event focused on navigating conflict.

Ford's central message revolves around the idea that finding peace in relationships requires a shift from fear-driven reactions to a state of openness and empathy. He encourages attendees to assess their own approaches to conflict. Are participants “closed” — defensive, dismissive or authoritative — or “open,” creating space for genuine listening, collaboration and understanding?

In exploring this theme, Ford played conflict games involving basketball and the martial art Aikido with attendees and proposed questions that challenged participants to reflect on their relationships.

“Even if you feel open, do others experience you that way?” Ford asked, stressing the importance of fostering safety and choice in conversations, which he defined as essential components of openness.

Participants also learned about the “risk of embrace” — the courage to approach difficult conversations without fear of losing control or being taken advantage of. Ford reminded the audience that openness does not equal weakness, just as being closed does not equal strength. Instead, openness is a pathway to deeper connection and mutual respect.

Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Ford underscored the essence of “Dangerous Love,” shifting the question from "What will happen to me?" to "What will happen to us?" It’s a perspective that requires individuals to prioritize relationships over ego, even in the face of conflict.

“I developed the workshops working with young Palestinians and Israelis as a way to help them work through the conflicts — both at home and in the larger political sphere — that caused them the most headaches,” Ford said. “Over time I found that the workshop can help everyone find a better path to navigate their conflicts. I’ve loved sharing these ideas and activities with my students at USU as well as the larger Cache Valley community.”

The workshop’s success has already prompted plans for a follow-up session from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, again at the Heravi Center Pavilion. Looking ahead, the Heravi Peace Institute intends to take the Dangerous Love workshop to other cities in Utah and USU campuses, aiming to engage more deeply with the broader community.

For more information about the workshop and other opportunities offered through the HPI, please visit chass.usu.edu/peace-institute.