This year has proven to be more than any of us imagined. Zina Jacque, Jessica Green & Claire Nelson ![]() Cynthia Armendáriz-Maxwell, Susan Padula, and Ellaine Sambo-Reyther for sharing their hearts and their time. Thank you to Sophy and Grant Elliott, Carol and David Nelson, Dr. Looking back on this virtual year and ahead to returning in person, we asked a few community members what they have learned, and why courageous conversations matter to them. In our second season, we transitioned from calling this a “series” to a Courageous Community - by which we mean a community unafraid to explore the sometimes uncomfortable but necessary conversations we must have as neighbors and strangers to build a more inclusive future where everyone belongs. We have been encouraged by personal acts of courage - sometimes standing up to speak, other times sitting down to listen. We’ve heard people say the series helped them see who is missing from their own civic organizations and social networks, and seek ways to extend invitations and expand representation at tables where they sit. Some have started their own efforts or joined in solidarity with others, from book and film clubs to racial healing circles to community advocacy initiatives. Though we hold a long view of time for social healing and transformation, we’ve seen seeds begin to bear fruit. We smile recalling early planning meetings when we hoped maybe 50 people would come? To date, over 1,000 people have registered for the monthly series, with upwards of 9,000 webpage views, 2,000 video views and 1,000 podcast downloads. As William Carlos Williams wrote in his poem, The Red Wheelbarrow - “so much depends on it.” “We need to help those people who are in jeopardy - physically or psychologically,” said French. Our success depends upon voluntarily relinquishing and sharing power. In the same way we see little remnant of the former animosity between Catholics and Protestants, Patel believes we can become accepting of all peoples and religions.įrench believes we are built for this - not only to survive pluralism, but to thrive. In this world’s oldest democracy, we must reach beyond just what we like or believe to work toward the greater good.” We must all believe that an affront to one person’s liberty is an affront to us all. “People of goodwill must be ambassadors within each group. Patel described America’s democracy as less of a melting pot and more of a potluck dinner where each contributes their own offerings to share. Our founders were vehement about protecting religious freedom - one of the core reasons many fled to this continent. The United States will no longer be a majority white Judeo-Christian nation - which is not an opinion, but a fact “just as true as the sky is blue,” underscored French. Not only are racial demographics shifting, so are religious identities. Patel and French reminded guests that we are a changing America, and that building a racially, religiously and politically diverse democracy is not easy, but worthy. (French grew to respect and cherish his roommate Leo while they both served in Iraq, despite the fact they were politically opposed.) Recognize that we are already working with people with whom we disagree - think of doctors, fire fighters, pilots, front line workers showing that the goal of saving lives or working for the greater good can outweigh political beliefs in everyday life andįind your “Leo” - a person with whom you disagree on political issues, but someone with whom you can share mutual respect and friendship. Protect each other’s civil liberties - an affront to one is an affront to all īecome an “in-group dissenter”- one of the minority in a group willing to speak up to acknowledge another group’s beliefs as valid To help counter the growing political and ideological divides in this country, French and Patel recommended some simple practices we can embrace to be the change we wish to see:Įducate yourself on both sides of a controversial topic - find and follow the best intellectual voices read the proponent first, and then the opposing view While they could not agree on college football, they could on the power of pluralism, the danger of cable news television, and the importance of civic education and duty.
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