healing divides
starts with conversation.
Rapid Response Work
A disturbing number of people suggest the upcoming election cannot be trusted. Some even believe violence would be justified if the election doesn’t go the way they want. The U.S. is the oldest democratic republic in the world, but democracy can’t function when we are unable to talk through our differences. If the American experiment is to survive, we must begin the work of domestic peace building.
The motto of Living Room Conversations is respect, relate, connect. We know that in the pursuit of racial equity, individual conversations are not the final stop in the journey. Conversations can help us better understand individual bias and racism, as well as consider how racism is part of our systems and institutions. We have created this resource page in response to increased demand and desire to have conversations about race.
What is a Living Room Conversation?
A Living Room Conversation is a simple way to heal divides.
It is a conversational model developed by dialogue experts in order to facilitate connection between people despite their differences, and even identify areas of common ground and shared understanding.
Within this model, we have developed over 100 conversation guides on all sorts of topics that can otherwise be tense to talk about with friends, strangers, and even loved ones of differing backgrounds and political persuasions.
You can explore all of our current topics (we’re developing new ones all the time) and even join an upcoming online conversation event to experience it for yourself!
what we're up to
What's New?
Our work bringing people together virtually for conversations and vital connection amid the Coronavirus pandemic was covered in the New York Times!
From the article: ‘ “It’s a way of taking care of people,” Ms. Blades said. “Maybe you’re signing up for these conversations because you’re lonely, or maybe you’re hosting a conversation because you’re worried about someone in your network who’s isolated.” ‘
Explore the work of Living Room Conversations with communities of faith across the nation.
Trending Topics
Political ads and media are fanning our anxiety about the other side and threatening the very fabric of our communities. Can we engage with generosity and lead with our deepest values at this time of heightened political polarization? Can we be peace builders?
Have you read the headline news about the election and found your blood pressure rise and your mood change? Do you find your inner peace shaken by the stress of America’s election season?
Upcoming Events
Polarization
Being White in the Anti-Racism Movement
How to Organize and Host Zoom-Based Living Room Conversations
Food
Press
How to Meet New People, Even at a Distance
Online and offline platforms are helping strangers form social connections, which are crucial for our health, especially in a pandemic. A retired teacher,
Election 2020: 11 Ways to Engage Students From Now Until November
Though election news will dominate the headlines all summer, the global pandemic has thrown into question everything from how the candidates will campaign
Videos
Forgiveness Living Room Conversations Highlights
This Living Room Conversation about Forgiveness was inspired by The
Living Room Conversations and MADA on Glenn Beck discuss Coronavirus Conversations
The founders of Make America Dinner Again and Living Room
Pastor Uses Living Room Conversations to keep his Community Connected Safely
Learn how Pastor Pedro Silva is using Living Room Conversations
What a Living Room Conversation looks like
Two conversation hosts with different viewpoints each invite one or two others to join together for structured conversation on a specific topic. (We have a lot of structured topic guides to choose from, or you can create your own).
The Conversation Agreements and structure help assure a good experience and allow participants to get to know each other.
Living Room Conversations can happen anywhere: our homes, coffee shops, conference spaces, churches, and more and more online via video chat.
What People Are Saying
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Political Peace Building
A recent headline read “The Choice Between Trump and Biden is Increasingly a Choice Between Good and Evil.” Where can you possibly go from there?
Nourishing Community During A Pandemic
Rainer Marie Rilke, in his book “Letters to a Young Poet,” writes about the notion of “living the questions.” When we are confronted with questions
The Virtuous Cycle: Our Strength Is In Our Vulnerability
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