The Watertown Human Rights Commission will team with Human Rights Commissions in the area to host an online workshop on Building Connections: Effective Tools for Community Conversations in March. See details about the workshop and how to register in the announcement from the HRC below.
We are excited to help further productive dialogue in our community, and invite you to a free, virtual workshop, Building Connections: Effective Tools for Community Conversations.
The workshop will be held over two Sundays: March 1st and March 8th, from 3-4:30 p.m. Attendance at both sessions is strongly encouraged. More details about the workshop are included below.
To register, please complete this form by January 31. /Building Connections: Effective Tools for Community Conversations
Flyers – Building Connections Effective Tools for Community Conversations.pdf – Google Drive
Please select the “Watertown” self identification option on the registration form.
Background
This workshop is the product of conversations between eight Human Rights Commissions (or equivalents) in Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Lexington, Needham, Newton, Sudbury, and Watertown. Our goal is to encourage community conversations that build connections, lead to greater mutual understanding, and open new ways to address challenges together.
To help our communities realize this goal, we are working with Essential Partners, who will provide us with foundational tools to support healthy discourse. /About Us | Essential Partners
What to expect during the workshop
This two-session workshop will focus on how to lead dialogues that build trust and understanding across differences. Participants will:
● Learn a framework to encourage authentic, open, and productive discourse in their organizations and communities.
● Develop key communication skills in listening, asking questions, and speaking constructively.
● Build confidence and willingness to engage across differences.
The workshop will be led by specialist instructors, and will include breakout sessions and handouts that participants may use as a reference following the training.
Participants
Each participating community is inviting 25 community members for a total of around 200 participants from across MetroWest Boston. If this is an effort that resonates with you, we hope you’ll join us!
Thoughts/questions? Please feel free to reach out to your local Human Rights Commission or equivalent, or to Eliza Spaulding, Chair, Newton Human Rights Commission at elizaspaulding@gmail.com.