Imagine having a conversation with someone whose
beliefs and background differed widely from yours. Would your
conversation be civil? Would you learn anything new?
Talking Together, a university
initiative that launched in 2022, will host an event in October
that highlights conversations from pairs of strangers with different
political views. "One Small Step" on October 1, from 6-8 p.m. in the Eberhard Center, is presented in
collaboration with StoryCorps and other community partners. RSVP for the event.
Lisa Perhamus, director of the Center for Civil
Discourse and professor of interdisciplinary studies, said many
people have applied to be matched with a partner. Applications for participants are open through mid-November. Perhamus said applicants — 50 by
the end of the project — fill out a questionnaire to help with matching.
"Listening and storytelling are the most powerful
ways to learn about someone and to not use characterizations or
stereotypes," Perhamus said. "In this country our nerves
are raw, and storytelling and listening remind me healing is possible."
Kyle Kooyers, director of operations for the Kaufman
Interfaith Institute, said attendees at "One Small Step"
will learn that we are not so different from each other.
"Talking Together shows that it is possible to
have productive conversations on a humane level and learn from each
other," Kooyers said. "These conversations will show us we
aren't as far apart from each other as we think."
Talking Together campus partners are Padnos/Sarosik
Center for Civil Discourse, Kaufman Interfaith Institute, Hauenstein
Center for Presidential Studies and WGVU Public Media. "One
Small Step" is also supported by the Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Foundation and Seeds of Promise.
View the 2024-2025 Talking Together schedule, which includes a culminating winter semester event on
April 2, "Michigan Listens: An Evening of Stories from Across
Our State."
Kevin McIntosh leads a discussion at the 2022 Talking Together kick-off reception.
