Master Class in Asset Framing

What it is: An interactive workshop using presentation, call-and-response, small-group discussion, and humor to help you make a more convincing case for equity. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to define Black people – and all people – by aspirations and contributions rather than by degradations and disparities 
• How to have more dignifying relationships with staff and communities of color 
• How to surface opportunities where others may only see problems 

Facilitator: Trabian Shorters, CEO/Founder, BMe Community 

About BMe Community: BMe Community is an award-winning network of innovators, leaders, and champions who invest in aspiring communities. Through our Asset-Framing Program, we train leading organizations in matters of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

Navigating Differences in a World of Political Polarization

What it is: A highly interactive workshop to help you build skills for constructive conversations.  

What you’ll learn: 

• How the language funders use can land differently with stakeholders from the right or the left of the political continuum 
• How to avoid the predictable traps of communicating in this time of high polarization and low social trust 

Facilitator: Bill Doherty, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Professor, Co-founder, Braver Angels

About Braver Angels: Braver Angels is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide by bringing Red and Blue Americans together into a working alliance. 

Collaborative Problem Solving: A Path to Wise and Durable Solutions

What it is: A transformative workshop on how to use time-tested strategies to convene diverse stakeholders and achieve maximum impact. 

What you’ll learn: 

• How to cultivate a mindset that leverages the strength of collective wisdom 
• How to not only manage conflicts but transform them into opportunities for growth and mutual understanding 
• How to convene diverse stakeholders, frame issues, identify shared goals, and solve complex problems together 

Facilitators: Mariah Levison, CEO and President, Convergence Center for Policy Resolution; Beth Miller, Executive Vice President, Convergence Center for Policy Resolution

About Convergence Center for Policy Resolution: Convergence is the leading organization bridging divides to solve critical issues through collaborative problem-solving across ideological, political, and cultural lines. 

Empathic Bridge Building: Where Science Meets Practice

What it is: A hands-on workshop to help you learn and practice the skill of validating the perspectives of others while holding firm to your own. 

What you’ll gain: 

• A profound grasp of the research supporting bridging practices 
• Enhanced skills in empathic listening, perspective giving and perspective taking 
• A wealth of resources to support your internal and external work to bridge differences 

Facilitators: Allison Briscoe-Smith, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center; Juliana Tafur, Bridging Differences Program Director, Greater Good Science Center

About the Greater Good Science Center: The Greater Good Science Center turns research into action. Since 2018, the GGSC's Bridging Differences program has combined science and storytelling to address the critical challenge of political and cultural polarization.  

Leading in a Religiously Diverse World

What it is: An interactive session to build your confidence and capacity to move from religious diversity (a fact) to pluralism (engagement across diversity) within and beyond your organization. 

What you’ll explore:  

• The social science behind Interfaith America’s methodology of respect – relate – cooperate 
• Additional tools to go deeper on religious literacy, shared values dialogue, and navigating tension 

Facilitators: Becca Hartman-Pickerill, Senior Director of Democracy Initiatives, Interfaith America; Jenan Mohajir, Vice President of External Affairs, Interfaith America 

About Interfaith America: Interfaith America’s mission is to inspire, equip, and connect leaders and institutions to unlock the potential of America's religious diversity.  It is the leading civic interfaith institution in the world, partnering with corporations and businesses, leading civic organizations and networks, and over 600 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. 

Building a Culture of Dialogue Across Difference

This workshop is sold out both days.

What it is: A workshop to build your capacity to explore disagreements while strengthening relationships, trust, learning, and collaboration. 

What you’ll gain: 

• Practice in two core skills for difficult conversations across diverse backgrounds and viewpoints 
• Customized coaching from Resetting the Table staff and Council staff who have been trained by Resetting the Table 
• Increased capacity and confidence to discuss charged issues 
• Replicable tools and exercises for building communication across differences in ways that strengthen connection, insight, and collaboration 

Facilitators: Leah Reiser, Chief Training Officer, Resetting the Table; Melissa Weintraub, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Resetting the Table 

Coaches: Brian Kastner, Director, Engagement, Council on Foundations; Daniela Rodriguez Ranf, Director, Leadership Development and Training, Council on Foundations; Kristen Scott Kennedy, Vice President, Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness and Chief of Staff, Council on Foundations; Nidale Zouhir, Manager, Government Affairs, Council on Foundations 

About Resetting the Table: Resetting the Table equips leaders and communities with tools and skills to transform toxic polarization in American life. RTT trains societal norm-shapers from influential clergy to grantmaking professionals to Hollywood showrunners and writers of popular shows like Grey's Anatomy and Handmaid's Tale. 

Understanding and Overcoming the Rural-Urban Divide

What it is: A concise but deep dive into the underlying causes of the rural urban divide and what progressives, liberals, and moderates can do to overcome it. 

What you’ll learn:  

• Effective communication across lines of difference 
• Nonpolitical community work to restore trust 
• Developing public policy that promotes bottom-up problem solving 
• Effective engagement with those who have dropped out of civic and political affairs  

Facilitators: Erica Etelson, Communications Director, Rural Urban Bridge Initiative; Anthony Flaccavento, Director, Rural Urban Bridge Initiative; Cynthia Wallace, Executive Director and Co-Founder, New Rural Project 

About Rural Urban Bridge Initiative: The Rural Urban Bridge Initiative is a national organization dedicated to helping people understand and overcome the rural urban divide through three program areas: Research and analysis; education and training; and concrete action initiatives, including national policy work.

Building Connections Across Political Divides, One Conversation at a Time

What it is: A journey through lessons learned from StoryCorps’ 20-year history and its One Small Step Program, which records meaningful conversations between strangers. 

What you’ll learn: 

• The theory behind and lessons learned from StoryCorps’ One Small Step conversation model 
• Listening techniques that you’ll practice during a guided One Small Step-style conversation with fellow attendees 
• How you can take one small step in your organization or in your community 

Facilitators: Mary Bess Ser, Field Manager, One Small Step, StoryCorps; Emily Janssen, Director, Learning & Engagement, StoryCorps; Marie Lovejoy, Scheduler/Facilitator, One Small Step, StoryCorps

About StoryCorps: Founded in 2003, StoryCorps has given over 642,000 people, in all 50 states, the chance to record interviews about their lives. The award-winning organization preserves the recordings at the Library of Congress, the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.