Essential Partners

I had a beautiful time sharing space with the wonderful Katie Hyten from Essential Partners today in our Inclusion Geeks webinar on how to manage discussions about the (US) election in the workplace. I didn't think to take a screenshot, but you can see our faces in this speaker slide from the webinar. It's always a delight to learn from Katie and hear how she and her organization are approaching the important work of holding space and having dialogues across difference. Thanks for having this conversation with me, Katie!

“Interfaith coalitions are the pillars and cornerstones of communities, where people can talk across difference, and should be the refuge, haven, or place where some of the most important conversations can be had,” EP's John Sarrouf explains. https://bit.ly/4fhiWEH

We are in the election home stretch. Here are 4 exercises to help you resist the rising polarization around you—to stay curious, grounded, and connected. https://bit.ly/3RRh2Ay

5 tips for a healthier dinner table conversation about politics, courtesy of EP Academic Associate Jill DeTemple https://bit.ly/47HaADt

Fabulous training yesterday for faculty and staff of 5 Colleges of the Fenway, to help them facilitate discussions about polarizing topics! Learn more about our work in higher ed: https://lnkd.in/ekXyVGvr

I've been very fortunate to have been connected with folks at The Christian Science Monitor starting in 2013 when it co-sponsored dialogues about firearms in the Mother Church's Hall of Ideas. CSM has always been interested in dialogue and other constructive approaches to conflict, so when I recently got the chance to speak with them and share some resources, I was honored. Here are two links: one to an annotated list of books that are especially useful in general and the other to a chat with me about managing conversations in this fraught moment. Maybe something of use to you or to pass along to folks you work with. https://lnkd.in/e7R4t9Eg https://lnkd.in/eC4Q3cj3

“The impact of the documentary, and the dialogue that followed, were remarkable.” https://bit.ly/3X3FUHQ

Polarization is high while our ability to hold complex, honest, healthy discussions of important issues is low. But it doesn't have to be that way, says SMU Professor and EP Academic Associate Jill DeTemple. Listen to her complete interview at the SMU Perspectives podcast! https://bit.ly/4e45YcY

We are proud to share our FY24 Annual Report! In an unprecedented year of polarization, our partners, collaborators, and community members turned division into connection and fear into hope. Read about our work and impact: https://bit.ly/3U1Kxl4

“This is the first time that we have felt like a community since October 7th.” https://bit.ly/4gNNRtD