Dear Friends of the Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse,
In the last couple of weeks, I have been humbled by the many stories people have shared
with me as they have struggled to make sense of the realities of war. Through tears, both
theirs and mine, we have supported each other through our respective experiences of
carrying the heaviness of violence, suffering, and grief. This is an emotional time. As I sit
here in my grandmother’s rocking chair that is my writing place, it feels important to
remember our shared humanity. At the very heart of civil discourse is our capacity to listen
to one another. Through listening, we can better understand each other’s stories, and, as I
often say, it is hard to hate someone whose story one knows. Let’s learn each other’s
stories right now.
Welcome to our newsletter. We try to say a personal hello each issue with messages from
the director and an advisory board member, as well as keep you up to date with highlights
about center events and civil discourse classes. Each issue also offers you a few resources
for continued learning and connection around civil discourse and bridge-building. In addition to our newsletter, we invite you to connect through our social media (@gvsudiscourse).
Please consider this a personal invitation to submit your stories of civil discourse! We love
to amplify examples of constructive conversation and people working across differences. And we always appreciate your support of our programming, which impacts students across the university through their years at Grand Valley and beyond.
I’d like to end with a quote. I was always taught not to use long quotes and not to end one’s
writing with someone else’s words. And yet, I am going to do both. In sharing the quote, I
hope to offer us each points of reflection as well as connection.
As the world grows more strange and puzzling and difficult, I don’t believe
most of us want to keep struggling through it alone. I can’t know what to do
from my own narrow perspective. I know I need a better understanding of
what’s going on. I want to sit down with you and talk about all the frightening
and hopeful things I observe and listen to what frightens you and gives you
hope. I need new ideas and solutions for the problems I care about. I know I
need to talk to you to discover those. I need to learn to value your
perspective, and I want you to value mine…I know we don’t have to agree
with each other in order to think well together. There is no need for us to be
joined at the head. We are joined by our human hearts.
~ Margaret Wheatley, Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to
Restore Hope to the Future.
Wishing you peace and meaningful conversation,
Lisa
Director, Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse
