Dear Colleagues,
Given the stresses of prolonged COVID isolation, heightened demands for racial justice, and deeper political divides, the need for effective communication among our family members and friends and within our larger communities continues to grow. To help meet this need, our Practicing Democracy team has invited mediator and trainer Susan Carpenter to lead a Zoom retreat -- Speaking Across Divides -- on Saturday, September 26, for anyone who wants to become a better communicator -- especially with those of differing opinions and experiences.
Susan has spent the past 45 years bringing people together to address and resolve highly controversial issues at the local, state, and national level and has trained public, private, and nonprofit groups domestically and beyond. She currently works with diverse stakeholder groups to address complex public issues and to build capacity for collaborative leadership.
Spiritual texts and teachers tell us to love ourselves, to love our neighbors, and even to love our enemies. Having productive and open-hearted conversations is one way we do that. And in the months leading up to the U.S. election, this kind of engagement is a critically important spiritual practice. We hope you will join Susan and our S&P community for this important retreat.
You can read more and sign up here:
Please read on to learn about other resources to help you practice democracy by speaking across divides.
Salaam, Shalom, Shanti, Peace,
The Practicing Democracy Project Team
