Upcoming Living Room Conversations: Building Bridges This Fall and Winter

Living Room Conversations is hosting a series of virtual dialogues this fall and winter designed to bring people together across differences in a spirit of listening, learning, and mutual understanding. Beginning with a Youth Council-led discussion on media and polarization on October 30th, the lineup continues with national roundtables on political violence in November and a series of December sessions focused on belonging, religious harmony, LGBTQIA+ experiences, community wholeness, and hope. Each conversation offers participants a chance to explore critical social issues while practicing respectful dialogue and empathy. By fostering connection in small, accessible online gatherings, Living Room Conversations aims to counter polarization and strengthen the social fabric through honest, human exchange and shared discovery. Read more in the blog post below.

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​NCDD member Living Room Conversations is offering an inspiring lineup of virtual dialogues this fall and winter, creating safe spaces for people to connect across differences and explore some of the most pressing issues facing our communities. These staff-led conversations embody the heart of dialogue and deliberation work—bringing people together not to debate or persuade, but to listen, learn, and discover common ground.

Timely Conversations on Critical Issues

The series kicks off with a Youth Council-led discussion on Media & Polarization on October 30th at 5:30pm PST, part of the National Association for Media Literacy Education's Media Literacy Week. This conversation brings a vital young perspective to how media shapes our understanding of division and offers an opportunity to learn from the next generation of civic leaders.
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November features two sessions of a National Roundtable on Political Violence on November 6th (at 4pm and 7pm PST), offering multiple time options for this crucial conversation. This special event creates space for participants to talk with those holding different political views and explore pathways toward action. In our current climate, this kind of brave dialogue is more essential than ever.

December: A Season of Connection and Healing

December's calendar reflects themes of unity, understanding, and hope—exactly what many communities need as the year draws to close. Facilitated by Living Room Conversations' own Annie Caplan, these sessions explore the threads that bind us together:

• Belonging (December 2nd, 11am-12pm PST) invites participants to share what it means to feel connected to community and how we create spaces where everyone can belong.
• Religious Harmony (December 4th, 11am-12pm PST) opens dialogue about faith, spirituality, and how people of different religious backgrounds can build mutual respect and understanding.
• LGBTQIA+: An Affinity Group Conversation (December 4th, 1-2pm PST) creates intentional space for community members to share experiences, challenges, and hopes in a supportive environment.
• Community Wholeness (December 11th, 11am-12pm PST) explores what makes communities healthy, resilient, and complete, and how we each contribute to collective wellbeing.
• Hope (December 11th, 1-2pm PST) closes the series by examining what sustains us through difficult times and how we nurture optimism while acknowledging real challenges.

Why These Conversations Matter

Living Room Conversations has refined a simple but powerful model: gather a small group, establish ground rules for respectful dialogue, share personal experiences and values, and discover that people we might disagree with on policy often share our deeper concerns and aspirations. These aren't formal debates or academic discussions—they're human conversations that rebuild the social fabric one connection at a time.

The virtual format makes these conversations accessible to anyone with an internet connection, removing geographical barriers while maintaining the intimacy and safety that make authentic dialogue possible. Whether you're an experienced dialogue practitioner or someone simply curious about connecting across differences, these conversations offer a welcoming entry point.

In a time when polarization can feel overwhelming and division seems to dominate headlines, Living Room Conversations reminds us that transformation happens in small groups, in honest exchanges, in moments when we recognize our shared humanity. Each of these sessions is an opportunity to practice the skills of democratic citizenship—deep listening, genuine curiosity, and the courage to stay engaged even when perspectives differ.
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All times listed are in Pacific Time. Most events offer registration with donation options, making these conversations accessible to all. Visit Living Room Conversations https://livingroomconversations.org/events/ to register for any of these upcoming dialogues and be part of building a more connected, understanding society.