Learn New Skills at the 2022 Summer Learning Springboard

Learn a new method for dialogue and deliberation – the Summer Learning Springboard is an opportunity to learn new approaches you might not be familiar with! 

This year's program includes several sessions which highlight practices that may be new to you. Check them out below and be sure to register to join us. 

Register now

Learning the Empathy Circle Practice
Monday July 25 and repeat session Saturday July 30
1:00-3:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM-12:00 PM Pacific
Host: Edwin Rutsch, Center for Building a Culture of Empathy
​Participants will learn about the process of an Empathy Circle by experiencing it. An Empathy Circle is a structured dialogue process that effectively supports meaningful and constructive dialogue. The practice increases mutual understanding and connection by ensuring that each person feels fully heard to their satisfaction. 

Helping Communities Share Nothing But "Good News"
Tuesday July 26
1:00-2:00 PM Eastern/10:00-11:00 AM Pacific
Host: Eric Pories, Focus Intent Facilitation Services
Learn how volunteers in West Virginia are bringing "Good News" to their community. At a Good News community engagement event, up to twenty speakers take turns sharing positive community news. Each speaker has a maximum of two minutes to share their “Good News” within a well-orchestrated agenda. 

Creating a Sense of Belonging
Friday July 29
12:00-2:00 PM Eastern/9:00-11:00 AM Pacific
Hosts: Mavis Tsai, Ph.D., Awareness, Courage & Love Global Project; U. of Washington & Susan Partnow, MA, Sr. Certified Facilitator, Compassionate Listening
Feeling that we belong to a larger group that shares common struggles and aspirations is fundamental to our sense of happiness and well-being. Conversely—isolation, loneliness and feeling excluded undermines well-being. In this session, you will: 1) engage in a mindfulness exercise that explores how belonging starts with allowing in parts of yourself that are difficult for you to accept;  2) explore your experiences of inclusion and exclusion; 3) practice how to more deeply be with your own and another's heart.

Convening and Facilitating Deliberative Discussions:
How Can We Encourage and Safeguard Voting?

Monday July 25
3:00-4:30 PM Eastern/12:00-1:30 PM Pacific
Host: Betty Knighton, National Issues Forums & Kettering Foundation 
In this session, participants will explore the fundamental concepts and practices of deliberative dialogue within the context of convening and facilitating community and campus discussions on the critically important and timely issue of encouraging and safeguarding voting. Participants will receive a wide range of issue-specific and general materials to help them in their future efforts.