Civil Conversations Workshop Reinforces Strategies for Empathy-Based Discussion in the MFS Community

Faculty and staff gathered in the Meeting House on December 9 for a Civil Conversations Facilitator Training workshop sponsored by Interfaith Philadelphia. This workshop provided strategies for helping students practice skills of authentic learning and deep listening, as well as suggesting “Ground Rules for Dialogue” when discussing difficult or controversial topics.

Examples of these rules included “give it time” and “don’t tell — ask.” As conversational facilitators, teachers must create a space where students can express beliefs that might be contrary to others’ without fearing judgment; workshop participants shared ideas that had been successful for them. The Interfaith Philadelphia team also provided suggestions for how students can frame their questions and points in a respectful way while remaining true to their own beliefs. 

The workshop ended with two practice scenarios, where small groups discussed how to address conversational “roadblocks” — for example, bringing derailed conversations back on track or ensuring that all voices are heard and encouraged to speak.