Fall 2024 brings the U.S. election and ongoing world affairs, which may present challenges in regard to interactions with others. The CWRU Wellness Program will offer a mini-series to help faculty and staff be familiar with the critical skills and tools to manage healthy dialogue and conflict and to give hope and empower individuals to engage in civil discourse.
In this skills-based series, titled “Building Blocks of Civil Discourse,” participants will learn more about key interactive skills that build consensus through a civil discourse approach.
Rhonda Fitzgerald, executive director of the Sustained Dialogue Institute, will lead this series.
Each session will provide an in-depth overview of the specific topic as well as time for reflection and large group discussion. The session topics will be:
- “Us and Them: Resisting Dehumanization and Polarization”
- “How to Manage Your Emotions” (practicing self-regulation during conversations)
- “What can Dialogue Do? Stories of Successful Dialogue”
- “Processes and Tools for In-Group and Affinity Group Conflicts”
Participants will meet Tuesdays from Oct. 1 to Oct. 22 from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom.
This session is ideal for those who feel a bit anxious about upcoming events and want to engage in a proactive learning opportunity to gain skills to help them manage over the next few months.