Conflict in communities, families and among friends seems increasingly visible and the resulting separations can be painful. How can we have conversations that bring us together rather than drive us apart? Many of us were raised in families and communities where disagreements were pushed under the rug, or the “answer” imposed by a parent or community leader. Being able to engage in conversations from different points of view without ending up making the situation worse is a skill that is desperately needed in our communities today.

Would you like more skills for engaging in difficult conversations? 

 In sessions one and two we will explore how personal and social histories impact beliefs and behaviours in relation to conflict and how we can work with these beliefs to gain more flexibility and comfort. In session three we will consider how we can support community resilience during social moments of reckoning such as that in relation to racism and colonialism. In the last three sessions, we will learn specific skills as we practice remaining open to deeper understandings and possibilities toward resolution. The skills sessions are scheduled two weeks apart so that there is more time to practice.

Deborah Conners, PhD

The facilitator, Deborah Conners, teaches community engagement and social justice courses in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Carleton University, having earned a mid-career PhD in 2016 and an earlier Masters in Conflict Studies. Her courses, based on adult-learning principles practiced over several decades in community development and consulting work, take a “learning together” approach to frame a dynamic learning experience that is (hopefully!) useful to everyone involved.

There are no training sessions currently scheduled.

For further information

Email: deborah@artsforhealing.c

Course Topics:

Session 1: Introducing a framework for understanding conflict   

Session 2: Who do we think they are? 

A trauma-informed approach to conflict​​

Session 3: What do the “isms” have to do with it? 

Exploring gender, race, and ability 

Session 4: Skills for difficult conversations, 

Part 1 – Practicing Collaborative Conversations 

Session 5: Skills for difficult conversations,

Part 2 – Practicing Collaborative Communication ​

Session 6: Skills for difficult conversations, 

part 3 – Further Practice​​​