Workshops

At a moment of deep polarization in public life, the On Being Civil Conversations Project (CCP) seeks to model “speaking together differently so that we might learn to live together differently.” Our local partners in Barrington, Illinois will offer their experience embarking upon “A Year of Courageous Conversations.” What does it look like to engage a community proud of its civic engagement and close relationships, but where the absence of diversity creates space where people can be polite, but not courageous.Using the CCP Grounding Virtues as our guide, how can we practice skills for courageous conversation in public life. Presented by The On Being Project

Confronting individual bias and increasing empathy to build inclusive communities and enable individuals of all backgrounds to contribute and thrive has never been more important. And first-person storytelling furthers understanding better than facts alone. Learn how the power of storytelling can build trust and advance productive dialogue from Tea Rozman Clark, Executive Director of Green Card Voices. You’ll also gain insight into fostering understanding and inclusive communities through the group card game, “Story Stitch.” Presented by Green Card Voices

Issues surrounding capacity building, inclusion, and diversity are challenging policymakers seeking to cultivate entrepreneurial ecosystems to rebuild postindustrial economies. Best practices gleaned from experiences in Detroit, Pontiac, and Fort Wayne can help. They include redefining the traditional label of “entrepreneur” to explicitly include and welcome marginalized and non-conforming identities pertaining to gender, race, location, or kind of work; negotiating changing funding landscapes, and mapping and building community assets to help diverse entrepreneurs thrive. Presented by Wayne State University

American laws traditionally have been shaped by donors, lobbyists, and others with the deepest pockets or best connections. So it comes as no surprise that public policies often neglect or deny equal opportunity to certain communities of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. In this workshop, you’ll learn a community-driven approach to advocacy that can be used to build the political power of historically neglected groups. Presented by Community-Driven Advocacy

Equity in philanthropy is a hot topic as many organizations develop strategies to increase funding and impact in communities of color. But is there a difference between giving and living? Can philanthropic organizations ever truly achieve equitable giving if equity is not reflected in their everyday operations, practices, and values? Join us for this candid discussion of embracing equity from the inside out and building equitable practices internally that drive equitable outcomes externally. Presented by Memphis Music Initiative