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Dear Colleagues:

As part of ���ϲ�����’s commitment to fostering meaningful and respectful dialogue on campus, we are excited to announce, “Life Together: A Community Conversation for Election Season and Beyond.” This event will bring together campus community members representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives to engage in facilitated dialogue on important issues related to democracy, civic engagement and the political climate.

Event details

• Date and time: Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 6-8:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:45 p.m., with a light dinner to be served
• Location: Goldstein Auditorium, Schine Student Center

Faculty, staff and graduate students are invited to serve as facilitators for these small-group discussions, ensuring that all voices are heard and that conversations are respectful and productive. Those who have not facilitated group conversations before will be asked to participate in a three-hour training. The Conflict Management Center, which is part of the Maxwell School’s Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC), will hold training sessions on the following dates:

• Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m.-noon, Maxwell Room 204
• Wednesday, Oct. 9, noon-3 p.m., Zoom (link to be provided)
• Friday, Oct. 11, noon-3 p.m., Eggers Room 220

If you are unsure whether your prior training is applicable or have other questions, please contact Cassidy Thomas, director of the Conflict Management Center, at cthoma22@syr.edu. To serve as a facilitator, please .

All volunteer facilitators will be asked to participate in preparation meeting—that will last 30 minutes to an hour—held virtually via Zoom, to review the agenda, discuss the process and address any outstanding questions. Facilitators can select from three options for this preparation meeting:

• Wednesday, Oct. 16, noon-1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 17, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Whether you have prior experience or are interested in developing new skills, we would love to have you join us as a facilitator. This role is critical to the success of our community conversation.   

This event is the first in a new series called “Life Together: Seeking the Common Good in a Diverse Democracy.”  This initiative is led by Gretchen Ritter, vice president for civic engagement and education; Margaret Talev, Kramer Director of the Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship; and Tina Nabatchi, director of PARCC. It aims to enhance the civic skills of our campus community in areas such as listening, advocacy, critical reasoning and advancing the common good.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to our collective engagement and growth. Your participation will help ensure that our discussions are both meaningful and inclusive.

Warm regards,
“Life Together” Steering Committee