SESSION TITLE: Conversation About Conversation
Convenor: Vicki Robins
Recorder: Marilyn Reed
Others Present: 42 total
Discussion/recommendations/actions.
Sharing the light of awareness on unconscious processes:
Diminishment of human connection vs. marketplace - a social taboo about conversation
- how do you create dialogue? The natural human desire to engage, to flow
- Cultural Creative, estimated 50 million in U.S., resource PeopleWeb.org
- Question: How to organize these folks with similar values
Cross talk: brainstorming what each person is passionate about/involved in
Pause and reflect: index cards - each person writes a question or a topic on it
Read: each read their card
Select: narrow down one to three or so topics, and then have the conversation.
What is deepening to the conversation?
- Questions at the end, how does it feel to have the conversation?
How to foster spontaneous conversations:
- Philosophers' Café at Simon Fraser Univ. (Continuing Ed Dept)
- People share their experiences of spontaneous deeper conversations; making it a practice to find out about someone and connect beyond talking about the weather
- Global Renaissance Alliance - book of Healing the World by Marianne Williamson; focus on solutions and coming together around challenges and issues
Conversations reliant on groups or a facilitator in public settings
- Men's wisdom circles; drumming then conversation with talking stick
- Neighborhood salons; Fran Pevey's Strategic Questions
Skills to holding space:
- Convening and ending on time
- Talking stick
- Rituals
Idea of owner of cafes being host of conversation times