Socrates Does New York: Making Conversation Week a Happening
On Thursday, March 20, Socrates will appear in Manhattan, in an effort to draw attention to the series of dialogues planned across the city as part of global Conversation Week. Ron Gross, a Columbia University professor and Conversation Cafe host extraordinaire, appears frequently as the 5th century philosopher. This clever bit of street theater is one creative way Gross is raising the bar and turning Conversation Week into more than just a series of conversations. This year, CW will be a citywide happening.
Here is the press release Gross sent to media in the New York area this week:
Joy and Power of Great Talk
to be celebrated at New York events during
global Conversation Week 2008, Mar. 24-30thSOCRATES to appear in Manhattan on March 20th
New Yorkers who love great talk will meet during the last week of March to discuss the most important questions facing the world today, in venues ranging from the atrium of an office building on Madison Avenue, to the back room of an Afghan restaurant on 26th St., to a library at Columbia University. These events are part of global Conversation Week under the auspices of Conversation Cafes (www.conversationsweek.org).
Among the free events already scheduled* are:
** Socrates, the 5th century philosopher famed for engaging his fellow Athenians in vibrant street-corner conversations, will reappear at noon on Thursday, March 20th, the first day of Spring, in front of the Donnell Library Center, 20 West 53rd St. (opposite the Museum of Modern Art), to discuss the joy and power of conversation, and provide information about Conversation Week. (Socrates is portrayed by Ron Gross, author of Socrates’ Way. (Contact: grossassoc@aol.com)
** Socrates Café, Tues., Mar. 25, 6:45 p.m., Atrium at 590 Madison Ave., between 56th and 57th streets (former IBM Building). Special CW meeting of this regular weekly gathering. (Contact: Evan Sinclair at ems327@yahoo.com)
** Socratic Conversation, Wed., Mar. 26, 4 p.m., Gottesman Libraries Columbia University (Teachers College), 525 W. 120th St. Special CW session of this twice-monthly dialogue group. (Contact: Ronald Gross at grossassoc@aol.com).
** Cafe Philo, Thurs., Mar. 27, 6:30 p.m., Bamiyan Restaurant, 358 3rd Ave. (26th St.). Special CW meeting of this twice-monthly conversation on the Parisian (Contact: Bernard Roy at bernardroy@earthlink.net)
* Please confirm closer to date. More events are being planned and will be announced shortly.
Want to be involved? — by attending a group, or starting your own? The website www.conversationsweek.org tells you everything you need to know.
Gross conducts such groups throughout the country, co-chairs the University Seminar on Innovation at Columbia University, is the author of Socrates’ Way, and frequently appears on the streets of New York as Socrates (www.SocratesWay.com).
What other creative ideas can you think of to promote Conversation Week in your town?
What is a host? Whether at a party, in the grocery aisle, or at a Conversation Cafe, a host is the person who creates and holds the space for dialogue, who asks probing questions, and listens intently for the answers. In this 12-minute podcast Vicki Robin discusses the all-important role of the host.