A National Dialogue About Personal Values and Civic Ideals
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Photos © Nubar Alexanian A national dialogue about personal values and civic ideals FACILITATOR’S MANUAL (Version 7.05) TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction…………………………………………………….……..3 Overview………………………………………………………….…..5 Description of Group Process …………………………..……………6 Supplementary Materials Introduction to NPR’s This I Believe …………….…………………………..…11 This I Believe Warm Up Exercises …..…………………………….......………..12 This I Believe Essay-Writing Tips/Original Invitation from Edward R. Murrow ……………………..……………………………………………………….…….13 Quotes from the NPR Series ……………………………...……………….…….15 Quotes from the Original Series .………………………………..…..…………..17 Definitions ………………………………………………………………………18 This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 2 This I Believe Dialogue Facilitation Manual Introduction Why Dialogue? Why Now? “When people share personal stories, their uniqueness and complexity emerge. Personal exchanges diminish stereotyping and promote caring.” -Public Conversations Project, 2001 (www.publicconversations.org) This I Believe offers a unique position to facilitate new kinds of discussion that can bring people together in a spirit of deeper understanding and respect, and encourage new voices to come together in an atmosphere of safety and inclusiveness. This manual offers resources to help you think of ways that you can engage your group or community in a dialogue around values that are constructive, free of political rhetoric or religious dogma, and that ultimately lay the groundwork for broadening the forum of public discourse to include more diversity and more voices without sacrificing harmony. We feel it is an extremely important time for community leaders to proactively step up and initiate this type of dialogue. Why? Fifty years ago, Edward R. Murrow, the original host of This I Believe, recognized that America was facing a new era. The atom bomb had ushered in the Cold War, and Senator Joseph McCarthy was questioning the patriotism of Americans. Today, like half a century ago, we face the beginning of yet another era: America’s domestic and foreign policies have been deeply transformed, technological and demographic revolutions present tangled ethical questions, and conflicts about beliefs seem to threaten and divide our nation. In the face of these challenges, there seems to be scant wisdom present in the public arena to guide us past the “spin” of the moment and on to thoughtful discussion of the larger issues. Even if one did attempt to articulate his or her beliefs, current trends are not likely to encourage introspection. Sound bites replace convictions; cheap caricature trumps reasoned analysis. Perhaps of even greater concern than issues of war, peace, democracy, free speech, and tolerance is any restriction of our ability to talk about these things. Virtually all our public discourse now happens on the pages and the airwaves of media outlets owned by a dwindling number of large corporations. In 1984, 50 companies owned a controlling This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 3 interest in the nation’s broadcasting, print, and publishing industries. As of 2002, that number had dwindled to six. A vital democracy requires direct communication. As the conversation begins, we must also learn how to listen to one another and to choose our words effectively so that others can hear. Liberals might find out that conservatives have important ideas beneath the standard-issue rants, and vice-versa. Those of conflicting religious conviction might find common ground. It is possible, but we will never know in our current conversational climate where the dialogue is designed to create more heat than light. Our goal is not to persuade Americans to agree on the same beliefs; our goal is to encourage Americans to begin the much more difficult task of developing sensitivity to beliefs different from their own. We believe that this process will happen only from the grassroots up—on public radio, in local newspapers, on the Internet, at meetings in neighborhood libraries, church basements, and community centers. This was the lesson 50 years ago when Murrow’s project struck a chord in millions of Americans who listened to the radio series and read the essays in print. We believe it can do so again. It seems so simple—sitting down together and listening—and yet it is the lack of this simple act that causes and perpetuates so much violence in the world. -Public Conversations Project, 2001 (www.publicconversations.org) This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 4 This I Believe Dialogue Facilitation Manual OVERVIEW Step 1—Welcome & Opening Remarks 5 minutes Step 2— Ice Breaker Activity: 15 minutes Talking About What’s Important Step 3—Description of This I Believe 10 minutes Step 4— Review Principles of Conversation 5 minutes Step 5—Writing About My Beliefs 15 minutes --session can be split here as participants take more time for writing portion--- Step 6—Sharing My Beliefs With Others 25 minutes Step 7—Talking Together About Our Beliefs 15 minutes Step 8—Reflecting On the Process 10 minutes Step 9—Next Steps as a Group 10 minutes Step 10—Celebrating Our Beliefs 10 minutes Total Time: 2 Hours This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 5 DESCRIPTION OF GROUP PROCESS Suggested timeframe: 2.0 hours (can be split into two sessions) Items needed Comfortable chairs in a circle Refreshments Materials for writing or drawing Computer with Internet access to listen to streaming audio of the essays Signs for Icebreaker Activity (see Step 2) Step 1—Welcome & Opening Remarks (5 minutes) Opening remarks by Facilitator, why you are here, how you got involved, what appeals to you about This I Believe and why. Individuals take a moment to introduce themselves around the circle. EXAMPLE: Say something like: “Let’s start by going around and saying your name and …” (Facilitator chooses one or two of the following) • something that led you to accept the invitation to join this dialogue. -or- • something that you hope to experience or learn while you are here. -or- • something that could happen in this conversation that would lead you to feel glad that you decided to participate. “Please say just a few sentences - not more than a minute or so. I’ll start, then we’ll go around.” (As the first speaker, you can model brevity with a two-sentence response.) Courtesy of the Public Conversations Project (www.publicconversations.org) This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 6 Step 2— Ice Breaker Activity: Talking About What’s Important (15 minutes) • Ask participants to pair up, or hang signs around the room that say “Strongly Agree,” “Agree,” “Disagree,” and “Strongly Disagree.” • Distribute or read out loud statements in the exercise titled “What Do You Think?” (found on page 12 of this document) • Explain that the statements represent a few of the axioms that some people believe are true in their lives. If paired, ask participants to select one that they consider to be true and one that they do not, and talk about their choices with their partner. Participants can add statements to the list. Or, read them out loud and have participants stand beneath a sign for each. • At the end of the exercise, ask participants to share the statements they would add to the list. Or have them discuss their observations based on the group activity with the signs. Step 3— This I Believe Background (10 minutes) • Provide background information on This I Believe (See document entitled Introduction to NPR’s This I Believe on p. 11) • Play a selection of original and/or current essays from the project website, www.npr.org/thisibelieve • Talk about the anticipated impact of This I Believe on multiple levels: o Individuals—As essayists from 50 years ago acknowledged, writing a This I Believe essay can be a powerful personal experience. Participants often tell of acquiring new personal insights and motivation to stand up for what they believe to be right and true. o Small Groups—Bringing people together in small groups to share their This I Believe essays can have the effect of developing deeper understanding or new insights among participants, and as a result building stronger connections between members. o Communities—Conflicts about beliefs threaten to divide our communities. This was as true 50 years ago as it is today. Engaging others in respectful, insightful discussions about basic beliefs helps communities reach common ground, can bring about deeper trust, and ultimately create stronger communities. Step 4— Review Principles of Conversation (5 minutes) The purpose of establishing these principles is to craft a set of communication agreements that everyone understands and agrees to that will serve the purposes of the dialogue. Review the "Principles for Conversation" below and seek confirmation or revision. Ask the group to add principles or ground rules if they so desire: • Acknowledge one another as equals • Try to stay curious about each other • Slow down so we have time to think and reflect • Expect it to be messy at times This I Believe Discussion Manual www.npr.org/thisibelieve 7 Reprinted with permission of the publisher. From “Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope for the Future,” copyright© 2002 by Wheatley, M., Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., San Francisco, CA. All rights reserved. (http://www.bkconnection.com) ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS: Regarding the spirit of our speaking and listening, 1. We will speak for ourselves and from our own experience. 2. We will not criticize the views of other participants or attempt to persuade them. 3. We will listen with resilience, “hanging in” when what is said is hard to hear. Regarding the form of our speaking and listening, 1. We will participate within the time frames suggested by the facilitator. 2. We will not interrupt except to indicate that we cannot hear a speaker. 3. We will “pass” if we do not wish to speak. If suggestions are made and agreed to by all, write them on any posted list.