Program Schedule

FREE - Open to everyone

Saturday, May 18, 2024

11AM – 1PM

Manchester Community Library

138 Cemetery Avenue

Manchester Center, VT 05255

Are you tired of painful disagreements in which others don’t get your point, regardless of your tone or language? Do you avoid conflicts because you don’t learn from them? Are you dealing with estrangement, divorce, or alienation in your family? Do you get discouraged by endless disputes at work? Do you feel hopeless about political polarizations?

Real Dialogue — a skill and method of transforming conflict — was designed specifically to address the challenges of polarization and conflict avoidance when differences are important and passionate. Polarization and conflict avoidance are not problems of communication. They are problems of dehumanization. We humans must master our natural enemy-making tendencies if we want to live sustainable and satisfying lives together. 

In this two hour didactic and experiential introduction, you will learn about human emotions and our tendency to develop and confirm bias and stereotypes, as well as how to work with your own emotional triggering during conflict in order to become a more authentic speaker and a better listener.

You will be introduced to the Skill of Real Dialogue - Speaking for Yourself, Listening Mindfully and Remaining Curious – a practice that increases problem-solving and reduces polarization at home, at work, and in the world. This immersive two-hour workshop is transformative and fun! See you there!