Made possible with a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s special grant initiative Bridging Divides, Healing Communities funded by Berkshire Bank
In this final session, we will sum up the previous sessions and touch on some common problems you may encounter.
Breakout room questions:
What do you fear most about the perceived beliefs of someone who doesn’t share your political views?
Is there any aspect of the opposing viewpoint on gun control in which you can see any merit?
Participants will learn skills for intentionally and empathetically listening and speaking to each other. They will then use these skills to discuss common values and concerns and think about how to heal the tears in our social fabric. In later sessions, they will focus on the need to attach to some larger purpose as part of the human experience and as a tool to build connections to each other.
The goal of these sessions is not to solve big problems, change minds, or make everyone see the world the same way. Diverse views are healthy and necessary. Underlying that diversity is often shared values. Seeking and finding those commonalities means listening to accepting the “other” as an individual striving to create a life worth living–as they define it.
The sessions will be interactive, with discussion prompts, small break-out groups, and opportunities to share with each other. No advance preparation is required and different questions will be explored each week. Participants can attend one or all sessions.
If you’re concerned about the loss of civility, connectivity, and respect in our civic and social lives together, maybe it’s time to act. Instead of lending credence to those divisive forces, embrace the power you have as an individual to end division, promote mutuality and respect, and establish common ground
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIud-2vqzwoGtEvA-YRJqBfEUXL_ZimBQ9P
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.