About this event

Civil discourse requires mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization.

This workshop is designed to help you lessen the effects of polarization when you encounter them in your political conversations or advocacy.

Note that by “polarization,” we are not referring to healthy disagreements over issues or philosophy. We are talking about how we regard and talk to and about large groups of ordinary people, including our neighbors, on the other side of our own politics as if they were enemies.

Goals: To teach participants: • how to be more aware of our own “inner polarizer” • how to interact without demonizing or stereotyping other people • ways to approach public engagement with those who hold different views

Who is this workshop for? Anyone who has felt the need and desire to talk over, yell at, or scream in general direction of someone from the other side.