Opportunities for peace and understanding.
Center for Peace Victoria desires to bring our community together for
meaningful conversations in creative ways.
Join us October 29 for our next
Virtual Conversation Over Coffee
Political Peace Building
Click on image above to sign up.
“Political ads and media are fanning our anxiety about the other side and threatening the very fabric of our communities. Can we engage with generosity and lead with our deepest values at this time of heightened political polarization? Can we be peace builders? This conversation was designed to foster political peace building efforts within and between political affinity groups. It provides an opportunity to reflect on how we got to our current polarized climate and what the costs of that division are as we face the presidential election. What commitments can we make with ourselves and other community members to help us heal rifts and better model what a successful democratic republic can be?” Adapted from www.livingroomconversations.org
In the first half hour, participants will discuss questions with those participants who share similar political leanings. In the second half hour, participants from both sides will listen to each other’s perceptions of themselves and look for commonalities. The event will maintain the same number of participants for each political affinity group
Please register as either a conservative or a liberal leaning participant.
Paricipants will receive the Zoom link 1-2 days before.
In the first half hour, participants will discuss questions with those participants who share similar political leanings. In the second half hour, participants from both sides will listen to each other’s perceptions of themselves and look for commonalities. The event will maintain the same number of participants for each political affinity group
Please register as either a conservative or a liberal leaning participant.
Paricipants will receive the Zoom link 1-2 days before.
Better Angels Red Blue Online Workshop
ANNOUNCING A NEW RED BLUE ONLINE WORKSHOP I & II
Workshop I: OCT 17 10:00AM - 12:30PM
Workshop II: OCT 24 10:00AM - 12:30PM
*Please remember to register for both days. Registration commits to both workshops.
*Zoom link will be sent prior to the workshops
What is a Red/Blue Workshop? A workshop brings together about 5-7 REDS - conservative (Republican-leaning) citizens and 5-7 BLUES - liberal (Democratic-leaning) citizens -- for a morning of structured conversations. Up to 13 observers can be present to listen and then interact with participants at breaks.
Why: In Abraham Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address in 1861, with the nation on the brink of Civil War, he appealed to the “better angels of our nature.” In our dangerously divided nation, we all need to be touched by something better and braver within us and within the country we share. That’s why we’re hosting this Braver Angels workshop.
Goals: To better understand the experiences and beliefs of those on the other side of the political divide To see if there are areas of commonality in addition to differences To learn something that might be helpful to others in our community and the nation
The Process: The workshop is facilitated by two Better Angels-certified moderators who ensure a setting hospitable to red and blue participants alike. The focus is on listening and reflecting, rather than debating and persuading. All who attend report transformative experiences of positive hope for the country we love.
Requirements to participate: Be willing to listen to the “other side” Be willing to engage the “other side” in respectful conversation Commit to attend both sessions—Part 1 on October 17 from 10:00 – 12:30 and Part 2 on October 24 from 10:00 – 12:30. Participants in Part 2 must have first attended Part 1.
Requirements to observe: Be willing to listen Commit to attend both sessions—Part 1 on October 17 from 10:00 – 12:30 and Part 2 on October 24 from 10:00 – 12:30. Participants in Part 2 must have first attended Part 1.
What happens in the workshop: You participate in a series of structured experiences, designed by an expert in Family Therapy, to breakthrough stereotypes and misperceptions of the ‘other’ side. You hear how each side believes their values and policies are good for the country. You ask and answer earnest questions about each other’s beliefs and values.
How to attend: We use Eventbrite to manage our workshops. There are up to seven (7) Red and seven (7) Blue tickets for each workshop. There are up to thirteen (13) observer positions in each workshop. We manually manage a waitlist if all slots are filled (see Eventbrite page for more information). Please remember to register for both days.
Commit to attend both sessions—Part 1 on October 17 from 10:00 – 12:30 and Part 2 on October 24 from 10:00 – 12:30. Participants in Part 2 must have first attended Part 1.
A Zoom Link will be sent to participants prior to the workshop.
To begin the Registration Process: CLICK HERE
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Better Angels Red Blue Workshops bring Republicans and Democrats together to listen and learn from one another and find areas of commonality. Better Angels Red or Blue Skills Workshops teach participants how to speak to the other side in a way that they will listen. Danna Cole is a trained moderator for both workshops. To find out how to schedule a workshop, email centerorpeacevictoria@gmail.com.
To find out more about Better Angels, visits their website at www.better-angels.org or click here or here to read about our Victoria Better Angel workshop in the Victoria Advocate. |
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Community Book ReadsPartnering with the Victoria Angela Program and the Victoria Public Library, Center for Peace Victoria hopes to bring people together to discuss difficult topics, such as racism, criminal injustices, immigration or poverty, by reading books together as a community. (See announcement above for current book).
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Facilitated Dialogue Workshops Through facilitated dialogue, participants can work through conflict in a safe, structured environment, Dialogues may center around conflicts, interfaith communication or differences in political or social perspectives.
To take the first steps to become a trained facilitator, attend the next Transformative Dialogue workshop by Quantum Circles Training and Consulting in Victoria, TX, Click here for more information: |
Conversations Over Coffee Conversations Over Coffee events bring community members together to engage in meaningful conversations about topics relevant to the community by discussing three thought-provoking questions.
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