Building Bridges Through Listening
A space where Grinnell community members can come together
The Listening ProjectCommunity building dialogues
The Listening ProjectA space where Grinnell community members can come together
Our dialogue sessions provide a space to talk about both the things that connect us and the things that make us different from each other.
The Listening Project aims to provide a space where Grinnell community members of different backgrounds and interests can come together to listen to and learn from each other through facilitated dialogue opportunities. In doing so, the Listening Project seeks to build relationships between different segments of the community in order to support civic collaboration.
The dialogue events run by the Listening Projects are scaffolded conversations that are 1) grounded in shared agreements that participants help shape and 2) that are supported by intentional facilitation that seeks to provide an inclusive space where a diversity of perspectives can be heard.
Our goal is to foster meaningful listening that supports and amplifies those we are listening to, thereby providing a space where community members can learn about each other in rich and complex ways so as to break down stereotypes. That includes fostering curiosity and interest in others, even as we may disagree with them.
Talking about differences may seem backwards at first, so let’s explain why this is important.
Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad said “If we understand our differences, our similarities have substance.” None of us fit neatly into a box defining who society tells us we are supposed to be. Yet these differences can be places where we misunderstand and hurt each other. Some differences have more serious consequences in people’s lives than others.
When people perceive us as different due to unfair stereotypes and judgments, we can suffer. Exploring both our differences and common ground can help us to challenge stereotypes so that we can better listen to, understand, and collaborate with each other across our differences
