Essential Partners

Polarization is a distinct social dysfunction, a self-perpetuating cycle of communication and relationship dynamics that breeds mistrust, misunderstanding, and dehumanization. Almost any difference of values, perspectives, or identities can become polarized.

Americans are most motivated to connect across politics when community norms support connecting, and intergroup anxiety doesn't get in the way. In my most recent article for TheFulcrum.US (https://lnkd.in/dxEXchqD), I focus on this finding from More in Common's recent expansive and impressive "The Connection Opportunity" report (https://lnkd.in/dmPxgEJp). I then highlight what More Like US and various organizations and initiatives are doing to strengthen community norms and reduce intergroup anxiety.   I mention the efforts of many other organizations, including BridgeUSA, Institute for Citizens & Scholars, Interfaith America , Braver Angels, The Harwood Institute, AllSides, Trusting News, Bridge Entertainment Labs, Beyond Conflict, and Essential Partners. I cover initiatives including the Better Together Film Festival created by organizations including the Listen First Project, the film Jesters and Fools directed by Rob Feld, the Great American Punchline Tour organized by groups like the Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) , activities of the National Social Norms Center Michigan State University, and the Strengthening Democracy Challenge led by Stanford University. I specifically identify the helpful work of professors Robb Willer and Kurt Gray. Thanks to all those from More in Common who put together The Connection Opportunity report, including authors Calista S., Daniel Yudkin, and  Jordan Wylie, PhD, and contributors Kate Carney, Tim Dixon, Ashley Fabrizio, PhD, Samantha Hasani, and Jason Mangone. 

“The work of Essential Partners is to bring people back down to their lived experience, to their hopes, to their stories, to the things that are important. Because conflict flattens people. Polarization makes us one-dimensional. Dialogue makes us living, breathing human beings again.” https://bit.ly/42p5f1C

This week, EP's Meg Griffiths led a workshop and dialogue at Ellucian Live, higher education's premier global technology conference! Here she is with Janet Bixby from Lewis & Clark, our Ellucian hosts / co-designers Kirsten and Brittany—as well as two other conference attendees you might recognize!

8 years ago this spring we started our campus political dialogues in collaboration with Essential Partners which convened once again last Tuesday night, this time with the topic of the recent executive orders. Since spring 2017, through all manner of political tumult and even during the pandemic, we've kept it up. The dialogues are designed to build understanding - not force consensus or shallow agreement. Sometimes common ground is found and sometimes not. They can help inform other forms of political engagement - advocacy and protest - and they keep the conversation open to ensure that we keep in mind our common humanity. About 30 students joined from different political affiliations and they managed to tackle all manner of tough topics raised in the recent EO's and more broadly with federal policies. They had plenty of profound disagreements but all agreed that the structured face to face conversations allowed them to engage in ways they often struggle with, including socially and online. Proud of our student clubs - College Democrats, College Republicans, Philosophy Society, Political Science Club and Student Government for their collaboration and partnership with each other and with the Political Dialogues Initiative. These students also teamed up on a joint panel yesterday at the Ellacuria Initiative Teach In which focused this year on Sustaining Democracy. They presented on "Youth Power and Responsibility: What Can Young People do to Sustain Democracy?" Special thanks to dialogue partner and Ellacuria leader Dr. Teresa Grettano !

“We want to be known as a place where people can talk across differences, respectfully and with curiosity. We need to be able to talk about difficult and controversial issues so that even if we don’t agree, we can still listen to each other.” At Lewis & Clark College, one course sought to facilitate discussion and collective learning around the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Essential Partners trained students to facilitate and lead healthy dialogues. “I feel like I was able to see different angles and perspectives instead of just one singular narrative,” said one student. “I hope that in doing this class students can see that even if a conversation is hard to have, it still deserves space and care.” The course, titled Palestine and Israel: Contexts, Convictions and Commitments, was supported by the Middle East and North African Studies program, the Community Dialogues program, the Center for Spiritual Life, and the Chamberlin Lectureship. https://bit.ly/44ks5tF

Thrilled to be here for #elive25 as a first time attendee and presenter on behalf of Essential Partners. It’s already full of magic! Join me and our partners from Lewis & Clark College tomorrow for our session: Structured Campus Dialogue: Leading with Values in Times of Disruption.

Wonderful interview with our friend and collaborator Kurt Gray, UNC Chapel Hill professor of psychology and author of the new book, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground https://bit.ly/42s41ni

Calling all teachers! Join us this summer for a three-day Dialogic Classroom Pedagogy professional development workshop! https://bit.ly/3PxCnwV

The growth of Shenandoah Conversations on Shenandoah's campus is a testament to the power of Reflective Structured Dialogue and Dialogic Classroom work. We are so proud to have made this campus-wide transformation possible! https://bit.ly/4hxWwQa