March Newsletter

Dear Friends of the Center for Civil Discourse,

Thank you for your patience while the center paused its newsletter publication for the month of February. We’re excited to be back “in conversation with you.”

 

Being in conversation means that we are listening before we are speaking. This issue spotlights a few new ways that the Center is taking a listening stance and inviting your engagement.

You’ll read about an exciting student produced and hosted podcast series that is in development. This series aims to be an antidote to today’s argument culture, featuring interviews with local, regional, and national speakers who are effectively building bridges, connecting people, and beginning conversations across difference. One of the most common things I hear from students is a sense of sadness that they have grown up without models for navigating difference and engaging in difficult conversations. Instead, they have seen their political leaders fight, argue, call each other names. This podcast series will equip students for a different future—one of conversation rather than debate.

Another way we are listening is through the Center’s Conversation Corner, a new feature of our newsletter that invites your engagement. Write to us with your dialogue questions and reflections, and we’ll respond in print! In this way, the newsletter aims to be more in sync with what is on your mind.

We also have a new Center mascot—a fun yet wise owl who will be visiting around campus engaging students in conversation. As you will soon read, our mascot was named through a social media voting campaign. Thank you for writing in with your name ideas and voting on the final name selection. Already, the mascot is increasing our listening capacity.

I write about listening because there has been a gap in communication with you through the interruption of our newsletter publication last month. We have used this gap time to reflect on how we can better hear from you, and I am personally inviting your engagement.

Please let us know what is on your mind. We are listening.

Wishing you peace and wellness,

Lisa

Drum roll, please…!

As the message from the director indicates, the Center is gearing up to launch a new student hosted and produced podcast series that will feature conversations with real people finding ways to bridge divides and connect across differences.

In recent years, college campuses, including ours, have increasingly reflected the deepening polarization seen across society. Many students express difficulty in finding role models or platforms that showcase respectful disagreement and constructive conversation around challenging topics.

The “Podcast Series” (to be named by students) will offer a platform for thoughtful dialogue, promoting understanding over debate. The initiative will focus on developing critical thinking skills, empathy, and the ability to navigate tough conversations, preparing students for constructive interactions both in and out of the classroom.

The podcast series will have a national reach and will spotlight guests who are community leaders, authors, and everyday people working to increase mutual understanding across difference.

This year, the Center is spotlighting our podcast initiative for Grand Valley's Day of Giving on March 20th. The podcast series will reach a national audience through Spotify, Google Play, Apple Play, You Tube, etc. at a critical time of societal polarization. The time is ripe for elevating constructive conversation.

Thank you for considering a contribution to support student training, student stipends and promotional outreach for this timely series. Your gift will help prepare students for the future.

Together, we can de-polarize our communities, one conversation at a time.

Meet Cecil, our Center’s new mascot! As a Laker, Cecil will soon be visiting spots around campus. Help Cecil get acquainted--where is your favorit campus spot?!

Cecil (pronounced see-sul) was named through a social media voting campaign. A huge thank you to everyone for selecting such a distinctive name. And a special shout out to GrandPR for our mascot design.

Look for news about Cecil's activities in the coming weeks!

Engage with us on social media and share your ideas for Cecil.

Thank you to the GrandPR's Create-A-Thon team: Bri, Mia, and Piper for creating such a wise and fun mascot! 

Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Did you know that the center provides trainings, workshops, and speaking engagements?

Recently, we did a workshop with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Civil Discourse: Tools for Fostering Connection & Community. The center was honored to partner with the GR Community Foundation’s team and appreciated facilitating such a thoughtful and inspiring group of community leaders.

Thank you to the GR Community Foundation for recognizing the importance of civil discourse in the workplace and beyond.

The Conversation Corner is a designated space for collective conversation.

We want to hear from you! Have a question about civil discourse or the current state of polarization? Please submit your question, and we will print a response in the next newsletter issue. If you have a story to share that illustrates a constructive conversation across difference, please share it below for consideration of publication in the next newsletter. If you would like to share a general comment about the newsletter or the state of civil discourse during this moment in our country, please leave a response. We thank you for your engagement and appreciate the opportunity to be in conversation with you!

New Advisory Council Member, Alex Priebe

What is your current position and what do you enjoy most about your work?

I manage communications for GVSU Alumni Relations. I love getting to hear about the incredible things Lakers are doing with their lives and careers, and to share those stories with the Alumni community. I also love getting to be creative and finding new ways for alums to stay connected to each other and GVSU.

What types of things do you enjoy in your downtime?

I enjoy spending time with my wife, Abby, our two kids Jojo and Benji (plus one on the way!), and our dog, Monty. We love playing games and getting outside to explore Michigan, especially the lake in the summer. I also enjoy watching films, playing guitar, and I’ve been teaching myself piano over the past few years. I’ve been learning lots of Beatles’ songs and I love it!

What does civil discourse mean to you (professionally and personally) and in what ways do you think civil discourse matters?

To me, civil discourse is about listening and empathy: making the effort to really listen to others and putting ourselves in their shoes. Then you can have a respectful conversation, even if you disagree. Civil discourse matters because it creates space where we can learn from others, have our ideas challenged, and continue to grow.

What do you hope to contribute through your Advisory Council involvement?

I hope to use my communication experience and skills to help spread the word about the work of the Civil Discourse Center, and to connect the Alumni community to these opportunities.

Please share an example you've experienced that involved elements of civil discourse, having a challenging conversation, or needing to communicate across differences. What do you think are the takeaways from this example that we might all reflect upon?

I recently finished my MBA at GVSU, and during the program we had many group projects. Throw together a team of adults who are juggling life, work, and school, all on different schedules, and you have plenty of opportunities for challenging conversations! When working through miscommunications and frustration, I tried approach conversations from a position of curiosity and learning—rather than assuming I know where others are coming from. Reframing challenging conversations around curiosity was a lightbulb moment for me. I took that lesson from a class I had with professor Michael DeWilde and the book, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. I’d highly recommend that book as a manual for having challenging conversations. It’s a gamechanger personally and professionally.

 

 

Looking for a 1-credit course?

Check out IDS 150 for a hands-on class where you pick the topics! 

 

 

 

Or a 3-credit course?

Consider IDS 350 for a deeper dive into dialogue and bridging divides.

Connections Through Converstion is a space and place for talking about things that matter. Join us for one of the remaining meetings this year!

March 26: Positive relationships

April 9: End of year celebration

 

Check out our resources for bridge-building and engaging in conversations across difference. Have a resource to share? Let us know what we could add to the list!

In a time of increasing polarization, where consensus, agreement, and problem-solving can sometimes feel elusive, Conflict Resilience provides practical solutions to a common dilemma: How do you handle disagreements and differences with integrity while finding a way to create strong, deep, and lasting relationships? Click here to purchase your own copy of Conflict Resilience.

Ex Officio
Shelley Padnos: Center Founder
Carol Sarosik: Center Founder
Mark Schaub: Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Advisory Council
Brian Bowdle: Associate Professor of Psychology
Stan Green: Executive Coach                                                                                                                                          Alex Priebe: Assistant Director Digital Engagement & Communications
Milt Rowher: Community member (retired business leader)
Tamela Spicer: Founder & Principal at The Intentional Catalyst
Britlynn Veliz: Civil Discourse Student Fellow (undergraduate student)
Greg Warsen: Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse & Associate Professor of Educational Leadership  

Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse
LMH Suite 167
Office: (616) 331-8044
Email: civildiscourse@gvsu.edu