316 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon Mi 49440

Contact: MollyMcKenzie

BA ETS: 4370

Skills for Disagreeing Better

June 3 @ 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm EDT

Host Organization: State

Partner Org(s): WGVU Public Media, Muskegon Area District Library, Center for Civil Discourse at Grand Valley State University

State/Region: MI

Setting: In-person

* Local Focus: Muskegon Area, Michigan

Note: This event is to be attended in person.

In this polarized time, we lack a basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves–their core values and central concerns–but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested.

When we try to communicate across this gap, we often lack the skills for listening carefully, looking for common ground, and sharing our perspectives in ways that connect rather than create more misunderstanding.

We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.

Goals

• More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically
• Better skills for listening in a way that the other person feels heard
• Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear, even if they disagree