If you’ve hosted a Conversation Cafe in the past, or a salon or a dialogue or a Socrates Cafe, help us tell others what the hosting experience is like. Here’s some ways I’ve described it:
A host is curious about what others think, has the courage to ask and the humility to listen.
A host makes community through making safe spaces for conversation.
Over at http://victoriaroserobin.blogspot.com I wrote a longer essay about hosting where I said:
I host conversations - at cafes, in my home, with strangers - because it’s who I am, not what I do. I can’t help it. I am always hosting. I am always inviting others to make meaning with me. I am always asking questions and listening to the answers, always wondering what others think and feel.
Now you. What is hosting to you? What does a host do? Not do? Say? Not say? Feel? Help others imagine what it would be like to host.
We have had two trainings calls already! It’s inspiring to see Conversation Week coming to life and hear people learning the technique of the Conversation Cafe process.
Any host not registered for a training should sign up for a conference call with Susan - it’s a wonderful to learn process and connect with fellow hosts! Check any emails you’ve received for a link to change your options to sign up for a time. If you can’t be on a call, take advantage of the many resources on the website, including the videos and the Host Manual.
I just returned from a 3-day Dynamic Facilitation workshop last week inspired, challenged, and healed. For those unaware of the method, as I was prior to attending Jim and Jean Rough’s workshop in Port Townsend, let me vouch for its unique place in the universe of tools and techniques we can use to hold a space for a meaningful discussion. Just as Conversation Cafe has its place, Dynamic Facilitation has its - and Conversation Week is about introducing more people to the great world of these techniques. Here is a 3-minute audio intro.
And I want to share another simple thought: our work to provide spaces for people to be their authentic selves, share their authentic creativity and concerns, and do so in community is perhaps at its root about facilitating meaningful relationships built on genuine care for each other. As many lists are brainstormed, strategic plans are written, and human resource issues are resolved, there is potential to facilitate in a way that lets people be their full selves, rather than only their “thoughts” or only their “feelings.” When the space is designed to share both and more, problems aren’t just solved - relationships can build that transcend the problem.
When we talk from time to time about the urgent need for a movement, and struggle about what that movement is about, perhaps we can add this: a movement to elevate our process consciousness has at its root the potential and/or desire to facilitate love in a world that can make such connection a rarity.
We’re moving! Over the last six weeks, the project team has continued to get clarity about the logistics and plans for Conversation Week. I am encouraged by the fact that there is general support and encouragement coming from most who hear about the project. It’s a thrilling experience to be coordinating such a project with a team members in Seattle, Vancouver, and Boston as I sit in the Shenandoah Valley.
We are currently in the process of recruiting mentors for Conversation Cafe hosts - individuals who are experienced in Conversation Cafe and are willing to help answer any questions and concerns for new hosts. We’ll begin seriously recruiting new hosts at the beginning of February - stay tuned!
Tonight’s conversation was affirming, motivating, and fulfilling. While there’s no way to capture it - especially not while on east coast time - there were some wonderful quotes and concepts that came out of our three and a half hour long conversation.
* “This is about celebrating the power of conversation to change the world.”
* “We want to increase the level of quality conversation about every divide in every community so that democracy can flourish.”
* “A breakdown in conversation is a breakdown in citizenship, which implicates a crisis in democracy and our ability to achieve peace, happiness, and safety.”
* “If people can’t talk to people about what matters most will we never get to the future we want.”
* “What’s the minimal structure that will allow friends, neighbors, and strangers to get together to get small talk to big talk?”
* “This is about the Declaration of Independence. You know, ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ and ‘people are created equal’ - conversation is the great equalizer.”
* “Communication is not just repeating the same message over and over.”
* “We want to increase the level of conversational literacy.”
* “People are yearning for three big things: civil discourse, a chance to be heard; social capital, a sense of belonging; and citizenship, a chance to meaningfully participate in the decisions that impact our daily lives.”
* “This is about a movement.”
On the ground in Seattle! I wasn’t sure we were going to make it with all the turbulence, but here I am. Heather’s train is going to be an hour late, so I figured I’d take the time to figure out the bus system rather than splurge on the taxi. Taxi = $32+tip to train station. Bus = $2(no tip). Nice.
Anyway, on the bus I must have looked like I wasn’t from around here because the man next to me asked if I was. He was a small, friendly guy, thick accent, maybe from Egypt. I told him I’d only be around for two days for a meeting. He asked what I do and I explained I work for myself but am meeting a group to plan a week of worldwide conversations. Ha!
Interest peaked, he asked, “About what?” I said each conversation might have its own topic. “Will they be mediated?” Not really, but I’m meeting some friends who came up with a process with which to have the conversations so everyone has a chance to participate and listen.
“You must have a topic! How can you have a conversation without know the topic? Someone might talk about religion. Or someone might talk about politics.” Yep. For Conversation Week, each person who hosts a conversation can choose a topic of their choice; however it can be expected that the first topic leads into others due to the nature of the Conversation Cafe process.. We will have a list of 100 or so possibilities, but we all might have a different topic we would like to talk about.
Then I told him about the group I started, OrangeBand. Since I’m traveling, I had a couple bags with OrangeBands on them and said they can be used as conversation starters about any issue we think is important to talk about. I gave him a little flyer, he took a band, and we would likely still be in good conversation if the bus wasn’t already at the train station!
What a perfect example of how Conversation Week is really about creating a culture of conversation.
