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How do we navigate deep social divisions over deeply important questions while avoiding patterns that can lead to violence?
In this month of events, we’ll explore perspectives and strategies–some faith-based, some secular–that can help us build robust communities across deep social fractures.
These events are presented in hybrid format (in person and on Zoom) in partnership with San Antonio Friends Meeting. Registration is not required if you intend to participate in person: 7052 Vandiver Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209.
Attending online? Register below for the events in which you are interested. If there might be broader interest in your faith community, extended family, or community group, and if you have the necessary technology to do it, please consider registering as a group and attending as a group gathered in-person together.
Why Should I Talk to My Neighbor?
Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Central Time: A Bible Study of 1 Corinthians 12. Online registration here.
Monday, August 10, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Central Time: A Conversation with Michael Mather. Mike Mather is a Methodist pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Boulder. His book, Having Nothing, Possessing Everything: Finding Abundant Communities in Unexpected Places, portrays the experience of a local church that decided to identify and support the natural gifts of the people around it, whether they came to worship or not. The tools and strategies we’ll discuss are relevant to both faith-based and secular audiences. Online registration here.
Wednesday, August 12, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Central Time: Study and Discussion of the FIRE College Free Speech Survey. The Foundation of Individual Rights and Expression recently discovered that 34% of university students in the United States believe that physical violence is at least sometimes an acceptable response to objectionable speech. What are the effects of such beliefs? Here is the survey. Online registration here.
How Do I Talk to My Neighbor?
Monday, August 17, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Central Time: A Bible Study of Acts 15. Online registration here.
Wednesday, August 19, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Central Time: Study and Discussion of the “Talk Bridgey” Report from PACE. The organization “Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement” recently published an updated version of the civic language perceptions project, which is a report on how various words are defined and perceived differently based on political leaning, class, generation, and other factors. You can download the report here. Online registration here.
Saturday, August 22, 1 p.m.2 p.m. Central Time: Learning from Northern Ireland: Will Haire. Quaker Will Haire spent decades in civil service in Northern Ireland and will share perspectives on how we can best speak with and coexist with our neighbors. Online registration here.
Can Changemaking and Peacemaking Coexist?
Monday, August 24, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Central Time: Study and Discussion of Rachel Kleinfeld’s Substack on Political Violence Data. You can read the Substack here. Online registration here.
Wednesday, August 26, 7 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Central Time: A Bible Study of 1 John 1 and Matthew 5. Online registration here.
Saturday, August 29, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Central Time: Learning from Northern Ireland: Paul Smyth. Paul Smyth is the executive director of “Politics in Action,” a charity in Northern Ireland that builds learning journeys with young people and adults that empower them to act together on issues that matter to them to achieve social change. Online registration here.
Monday, August 31, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Central Time: A Conversation with Mónica Guzmán. Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. Her best-selling book is, “I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.” This will be a Spanish/English bilingual conversation with interpretation. Online registration here.
Lunes 31 de agosto, de 7:00 p.m. a 8:30 p.m. (Hora Central): Conversación con Mónica Guzmán. ¿Pueden coexistir la transformación social y la construcción de paz? Mónica Guzmán es una tendedora de puentes, periodista y autora que vive para las grandes conversaciones que surgen de preguntas curiosas. Es autora del exitoso libro I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Esta será una conversación bilingüe en español e inglés con interpretación. Inscríbase aquí para participar en línea.