When CNN came to observe a workshop...
In early October, Van Jones’ team at CNN contacted Braver Angels (formerly known as Better Angels), a national non-profit organization committed to reducing political polarization; Van Jones wanted to observe and film a Braver Angels workshop for The Van Jones Show.
I volunteer some time with Braver Angels here in Chicago, and we were scheduled to offer a workshop, so CNN was sent our way. On the day of filming we all managed to ignore the bright lights, cameras, microphones, and wiring and the workshop was a success.
How do we define success? Quite simply, participants were able to learn something new about the other side while honoring their own political positions, and as a result, they were inspired to continue engaging across the political divide.
We didn’t teach them to do so; we led them through specific exercises that allowed them to hear the other side in all its complexity. We showed them the value of creating space for deep listening, and that this space is pivotal to fostering meaningful dialogue.
By the end of the workshop, some participants wanted to continue meeting as a group. Others wanted to reach out to friends who have been estranged since 2016. And some simply wanted to speak up more, using new skills. Everyone left with a desire to engage in more conversation with those who have views different from their own.
The reason I am so committed to volunteering with Braver Angels is because this organization recognizes the crucial importance of cultivating key communication skills for effective engagement. Workshops break down the components of effective communication — how we listen; how we speak; how we process — so that participants understand the value of devoting attention to each piece. This approach aligns perfectly with my own consulting work.
Kudos to Van Jones and his team for beautifully capturing the essence of the workshop in their 9-minute segment, which is condensed from 4 hours of filming.
Please take a moment to watch the video here. I believe you will be moved by what you see, and hopefully inspired, too. 🙂
Feel free to contact me to learn more.
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Copyright © 2019 Sharon V. Kristjanson. All rights reserved.