Last week’s discussion jumped off from one person’s concern about ways that ethnic minorities, particularly East Asian people, are fetishized in others’ imaginations.  Have you ever felt that just by being yourself you were “exotic” or “interesting” to someone else? Is that always a bad thing?

That’s just one possible topic – you’re strongly encouraged to bring your own.

Conversation One Wednesday, December 5 @ 4:30 PM

[Late arrivals/early departures are welcome!]

Sojourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

EVERYONE is welcome to join in the Conversation: staff/faculty, students, community members. Any religion, or no religion, any political affiliation, or none.  No special expertise needed.

Come prepared to listen generously and with a willingness to learn.  Our goal is to speak from our lived experience, and to be mindful of the feelings of others.  More detail in our Mission and Values.

“Today’s Topic” is just a suggestion.  You are always welcome to bring whatever is challenging, or hurting, or encouraging you in your life.

To be sure to get all updates, join the mailing list.

A man I respect and I differ on protests during the National Anthem. We debated, respectfully, then we parted. Neither, I think, persuaded the other. Yet we remained (I hope) mutually respectful.  Do you get tired of just talking (esp. at Thanksgiving dinner)? Feel like no one is listening, or you don’t have the right words? Want to discuss?

Conversation One
Wednesday, November 27, @ 4:30 PM [Late arrivals/early departures are welcome!], 
Soujourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

EVERYONE is welcome to join in the Conversation: staff/faculty, students, community members. Any religion, or no religion, any political affiliation, or none.  No special expertise needed.

Come prepared to listen generously and with a willingness to learn.  Our goal is to speak from our lived experience, and to be mindful of the feelings of others.  More detail in our Mission and Values.

“Today’s Topic” is just a suggestion.  You are always welcome to bring whatever is challenging, or hurting, or encouraging you in your life.

To be sure to get all updates, join the mailing list.

 

There will be no Conversation One gathering today, November 21, 2018.   Safe travels to anyone on the roads during the holiday.  See you next week!

On the College Council’s postponed decision on the Hasbrouck complex building names…

a.) “I’m still upset/angry/pissed!”

b.) “What’s the big deal? – this is so obvious, what’s the holdup?”

c.) “What’s the big deal? – aren’t there more important issues facing the world today?”

Feeling some of this myself, hearing more.  So how do we stay in the game of bringing about positive change?  Care to discuss?

Conversation One
Wednesday Nov 14 @ 4:30 PM [Late arrivals/early departures are welcome!],
Soujourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

EVERYONE is welcome to join in the Conversation: staff members, students, community members, faculty; any religion (or no religion), any political affiliation (or none). No special expertise needed.

Please be aware of our Mission and Values – which can be summed up as:” “listen generously, come prepared to change your mind and, speak only from your lived experience, in which you are the only expert.”

“Today’s Topic” is just a suggestion. You are always welcome to bring whatever is challenging, or hurting, or encouraging you in your life.

To be sure to get all updates, join the mailing list.

When someone says something stupidly offensive what do you do?* I  get angry and feel hurt (but of course don’t let it show). But if I act without thinking I usually make things worse. But if I swallow the hurt it always comes out anyway, maybe at a co-worker or family member. Plus if I don’t speak, I let the speaker off the hook, and maybe the behavior continues, or gets worse.

Have you wished you’d spoken up, or wished you’d found a different way to respond? Care to discuss?

*By the way, people on the Left are as guilty of this as anyone else. More on this next week…

Conversation One
Wednesday, October 17, 2018, @ 4:30 PM [Late arrivals/early departures are welcome!],
Soujourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

EVERYONE is welcome to join in the Conversation: staff members, students, community members, faculty; any religion (or no religion), any political affiliation (or none).  No special expertise needed.

Please come prepared to listen generously and with a willingness to learn.  Our goal is to speak from our lived experience, and to be mindful of the feelings of others.  More detail in our Mission and Values.

Today’s Topic is just a suggestion.  You are always welcome to bring whatever is challenging, or hurting, or encouraging you in your life.

To be sure to get all updates, join the mailing list.

One idea we talked about today was to somehow capture what happens in Conversation One.  What might that be like, and mightn’t we lose the amazing quality that brings people back again and again?

Well, some may remember, we did actually capture one, when Janus Adams visited campus last fall.  So here, without further ado, The Janus Adams Show – Live from the Sojourner Truth Library, Friday, October 13th, 2017

Huge ups to Janus and her amazing technical team at WJFF.  Admittedly, this is not an entirely normal  edition – we don’t usually have a national celebrity and mic setup.  But the wonder is, it’s not that different.

Let me know what you think.