Techniques for Better Conversations about Politics
Do you hesitate to talk politics with family, friends, and casual acquaintances because it’s just too fraught a topic?
Do you wish you were more effective when explaining to people why they should care about the upcoming election?
Do you find yourself freezing or stumbling when talking about politics, because it feels so personal and important and you just NEED to get it exactly right?
We’ve heard from the Left of Lynchburg community that we need to build our collective capacity for tough conversations on important political topics. That’s why we’re DELIGHTED to bring you this essential, no-cost workshop that will provide practical tools for having better political conversations.
This workshop will cover nonviolent communication (NVC) and bystander intervention strategies, so that participants learn how to navigate disagreements and difficult communications. We will learn and practice how to speak up when we might otherwise feel nervous or fearful. Participants will reflect on their own opinions and values and practice communicating with people who do not have similar beliefs through interactive scenarios. We will mainly focus on election and political situations and how to humanize each person we come into contact with so that conversations can be constructive.
The workshop will begin with lecture style learning and move into small group work in order to practice speaking effectively about controversial and emotional topics. Additionally, we will learn about de-escalating situations that can occur during election season. These challenges can happen at city council meetings, canvassing events, during voting, and after results have been called. Nonviolent communication helps us to be self-assertive while active bystander intervention involves being a witness to a situation or stepping up to disrupt a problematic situation.
Register Here —>
There is no cost associated with this event, but you must register in advance.
We’ll provide the link to join the virtual meeting 1 day in advance.
About the Trainers:
Sal Corbin worked for 15 year in academia as a psychology professor before transitioning to nonprofit work. He has done workforce development training and program management and is not a training coordinator for the Maryland Harm Reduction Institute with the Behavioral Health System of Baltimore, and Board Chair for the DC Peace Team. His vision is to help others build and maintain healthy relationships with conflict transformation as the primary focus. His extensive background in leadership facilitation supports his efforts to keep showing up and sharing. He holds degrees in Clinical (M.S.) and Educational (Ph.D) Psychology.
Heather Legge has been involved with DC Peace Team since 2021, including serving as co-chair of the Board of Directors. She has a BA in Public Policy and spent her early years working on Capitol Hill. She has volunteered with Everytown for Gun Safety and Students Demand Action and has led student leadership workshops focusing on basic nonviolent communication. Heather believes in the importance of nonviolent communication and the ripple effect it can have in a community. She also strongly believes in sharing life and stories to build empathy and active listening. She has been learning the art of restorative justice in hopes of building proactive community conversations and healing.