Is your normal someone else’s “interesting”? – Conversation One TODAY, Wed, Dec 5, 2018

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.

Impasse – Conversation One TODAY, Wed, Nov 27, 2018

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.

 

How do we stay? – Conversation One, TODAY, Nov 14, 2018

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.

Canceled–Conversation One, November 7, 2018

There will be no Conversation One this Wednesday, November 7th.  Next week’s topic will relate to the College Council meeting of November 1st.  Stay tuned for details!

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.

Each Week’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.

Heinz 57 – Conversation One October 31, 2018

Wednesday, October 31, 2018, @ 4:30 PM
Sojourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

Last week’s topic, “Beta Male” got pushed aside by the federal government’s rumored attempt to define gender. Meanwhile, there has been another tragic hate crime, this time in Pittsburgh. And Peter Kaufman in his extraordinary presentation last night pointed out the ongoing power of stigma: lung cancer kills more people than any other type of cancer, yet is not as well funded as many others. And the College Council meets tomorrow to decide on President Christian’s recommendation to rename buildings on campus associated with slave-owning. So much to talk about… What’s burning on your mind?

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.

 

Beta Male – Conversation One Wednesday, Oct 24, 2018

Wednesday, October 23, 2018, @ 4:30 PM
Sojourner Truth Library Conference Room (M39)

The guy’s obviously trying to be mindful of his privilege and his high status. He listens actively. He empathizes. So who’s going to tell him when he screws up? Is he really as safe to talk to as he presents himself?
Care to discuss?*
*(Different topic from what I promised last week, but several recent crucial conversations make this topic seem more germane.)

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.

Did she really just say that?! – Conversation One TODAY – Oct 17, 2018

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.

Who’s who – Conversation One–October 10, 2018

Is she Black or African American?

What are Chris’s pronouns?

Do I say Native American or Indian?

Do you ever get tired of trying to get this stuff right?

Care to discuss?

Wednesday, October 10th at 4:30-6:00 pm in the Sojourner Truth Library Conference Room M39

EVERYONE is welcome to join: secretaries, facilities staff, clerical staff, police officers, as well as faculty and students.  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.”

Remember to Join the mailing list for the most current updates.

“Oh am I talking too loud?*” – Conversation One TODAY – Oct 3, 2018

A young woman of color recently told me of an occasion in which she had been “loud”. In truth, she hadn’t been loud at all, she had simply been speaking a difficult truth that had weighed on her heart. My sense is that when people, especially people of color and women, and most especially women of color, speak difficult truths, they are often perceived as “loud”, “dramatic”, “passionate”, “emotional”, “political”, and that these terms are used to undermine the power of their speaking. It seems to me that too many young women of color must fight to escape the internalization of this picture of themselves.

Does anyone else share this feeling?

Care to discuss?

*lyric from “My Shot”, from Hamilton: An American Musical, by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Wednesday, October 3rd at 4:30-6:00 pm in the Sojourner Truth Library Conference Room M39

EVERYONE is welcome to join: secretaries, facilities staff, clerical staff, police officers, as well as faculty and students.  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.”

Remember to Join the mailing list for the most current updates.