Welcome to Conversation Café
Conversation Cafés were designed as a gift to the world. The hope was that this method and conversations using the CC method would spread “with integrity and fidelity”—stay both true to form, yet give hosts the maximum freedom to adapt it to their situation. A one-and-a-half hour hosted conversation, held in a public setting like a café, where anyone is welcome to join. Everything else about CC is just about that simple too!
More about Conversation Cafés and how to join and/or host one.
More about Conversation Cafés and how to join and/or host one.
The Complete Hosting ManualHosting is simple—like breathing is simple. It can be as minimal as showing up, introducing the process and keeping time. Yet the practice of hosting can be very profound. It is a dynamic, honest, humble process of staying present to your own reality while drinking in the reality of everyone else at the table.
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How to Host a Conversation CaféThis collection of videos hosted by Conversation Café founders, Vicki Robins and Susan Partnow, provide an overview of the essence of our dialogue process. Watching these videos will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the Conversation Café method.
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Principles for Conversation CafésConversation Cafés were designed as a gift to the world. The hope was that this method and conversations using the CC method would spread “with integrity and fidelity” — stay both true to form, yet give hosts the maximum freedom to adapt it to their situation.
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In 2001, three Seattle friends ran an experiment ...
Susan Partnow, Habib Rose & Vicki Robin believed that spontaneous dialogue would serve democracy, critical thinking & neighborliness. So each sat in a different café once a week & invited whoever was there to dialogue about things that really mattered.
Recent Conversation Café Projects & Stories
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New to Conversation Café?
Here's where you'll want to start...
Conversation Cafés are open, hosted conversations in cafés as well as conferences and classrooms—anywhere people gather to make sense of our world. At a Conversation Café there is nothing to join, no homework, no agenda, just a simple process that helps to shift us from small talk to BIG talk, conversations that matter.
Hosts are key to successful Conversation Cafés and we are here to make hosting easy, rewarding, and fun for you.
Just starting out? Get oriented! You can learn the basics by watching the video, or reading the hosting manual.
Ready to host and need some resources? You can download everything you need, find stimulating questions, and learn to frame questions powerfully. We have suggestions to help you promote your Conversation Café. Variations and Applications: Discover ways to adapt to shorter times or larger groups, as well as blending with a World Café design. Consider ways to bring Conversation Café to your workplace, organization, event, conference or community.
Curious what hosting is all about?
Hosts are key to successful Conversation Cafés and we are here to make hosting easy, rewarding, and fun for you.
Just starting out? Get oriented! You can learn the basics by watching the video, or reading the hosting manual.
Ready to host and need some resources? You can download everything you need, find stimulating questions, and learn to frame questions powerfully. We have suggestions to help you promote your Conversation Café. Variations and Applications: Discover ways to adapt to shorter times or larger groups, as well as blending with a World Café design. Consider ways to bring Conversation Café to your workplace, organization, event, conference or community.
Curious what hosting is all about?
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Did You Know?
Conversation Café was stewarded for the past decade by Community Action Dialogues -- a group dedicated to building a community of dialogue in the Richmond, VA area. They recently passed the torch of stewardship to the National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation (NCDD). |
Contact Us
Connect with NCDD's Izzy Henry if you have questions about Conversation Café or would like to get involved. We also encourage EVERYONE to complete this brief survey to let us know about your work/interest in Conversation Cafe! |
For many more great dialogue resources, visit NCDD's Resource Center.
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