The Public Conversations Project prevents and transforms conflicts driven by deep differences in identity, beliefs, or values.
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Training Dialogue Practitioners
May 9, 2012 — In this piece,* Public Conversations Associate Bob Stains gives us a deeper look into the theories and practices behind Public Conversations' dialogue training.
Q+A: Belle Abaya
October 27, 2011 — Earlier this year, Philippines-based conflict resolution organization, The Conflict Resolution Group Foundation (CoRe) started a campaign entitled Transformative Cells (T-Cells), aimed at building face-to-face communication skills among young people.
Q + A: The Gender Dialogues
June 30, 2011 — In this piece from our Spring 2011 newsletter, Program Manager and Associate, Alison Streit Baron talks about two Public Conversations Project gender dialogues, one in New York, NY and one in Cambridge, MA. She is interviewed by PCP intern Julie Ebin.
Sneak Preview: John Sarrouf
April 26, 2011 — We’re excited to share a preview of the Public Conversations Project’s spring newsletter with a segment from a new regular feature. "His/Her Voice" will highlight an individual who—like us—is building stronger communities through dialogue.
Dialogue: Understanding and Meeting the Challenge
March 23, 2011 — Senior Associate of the Public Conversations Project Maggie Herzig discusses what it takes to make engaging in dialogue possible. This piece originally appeared in A Matter of Spirit, the quarterly justice journal of the International Peace & Justice Center. We are pleased be be reposting it here on Words That Matter.
Labels in the Room
March 8, 2011 — A new political effort called Heart & Soul Community Planning
March 1, 2011 — When you think about land use planning (if you think about land use planning), chances are you think about esoteric zoning regulations or public notices appearing in the paper or fiery battles over property rights or development proposals. I think about conversations. And festivals. Storytelling and neighborhood block parties, schools and churches and chats over coffee at the local diner.
The Power of Dialogue in Minnesota
February 21, 2011 — Earlier this month, I had the privilege of participating in the Public Conversations Project's 3-day workshop, The Power of Dialogue. You would think that traveling to Minnesota in February would be a deterrent, even if the trip promised a unique training experience for understanding what dialogue is and what is involved in facilitating the kind of conversations that aim at mutual understanding.
Compassionate Comments
February 15, 2011 — Why is it that, in the heated public debate about vitriolic speech that followed the dreadful shootings in Tucson, the most common recommendation we hear is to continue with the culture war but tone it down a bit?
The Enemy Within: Why We're Hardwired for Conflict
January 27, 2011 — Imagine that you are in a conversation with a co-worker about strategy or with your siblings about the care of an aging parent. Suddenly you become defensive. It didn’t start as a threatening conversation. Your interlocutor wasn’t rude or aggressive. But somehow, the conversation became fraught and tense and you now find yourself unable to think.
