Empowering Deep Sharing

We live in an era of rapid change, great uncertainty, and profound unmet needs at many levels, and for a great many people. These experiences inspire strong emotion and radical actions, often without thought of the ultimate and unintended consequences. With this comes conflict in every community, and around the world.

We want others to hear our opinions and concerns. We want others to share them, to act on them as we wish them to, to live their lives as we live ours. Without that, we believe that things will only get worse. So we express ourselves strongly, and in adamant, non-negotiable terms, not willing to allow for the possibility of other ways of thinking and being. And yet, the ultimate test of humanity is that we must live together in harmony in order to survive as individuals and as a specie.

Knowing this, the question becomes: How, then, do we talk to others in ways that evoke understanding and collaboration, even in spite of our differences?

Across the nation and around the world, people are beginning to recognize the power of dialogue – coming together in small groups facilitated by peers or professionals to talk about the things that are important to them in a whole new way: peacefully, collaboratively, and in an atmosphere that inspires deep listening. In addition to our different viewpoints, we explore shared values and shared needs – those common bonds that help build community, even among diverse people with diverse beliefs and ways of being.