by Diana Laughlin, Civic Engagement Librarian
“Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet, they don’t just exchange facts: they transform them, re-shape them, draw different implications from them, engage in new trains of thought. Conversation doesn’t just shuffle the cards: it creates new cards.”
Illuminating conversations, like those described above by author Theodore Zeldin, are an important aspiration of the Library’s Current Affairs programs. To have the best conversations, we seek and welcome all voices and perspectives.
While not advocating any particular stance, the Library provides opportunities to discuss the challenging and complex issues of our day — often with a book as the starting place, because books provide a springboard into those transformative discussions.
This fall, the Library has an exciting series of current affairs programs. We hope you’ll join these conversations.
Since the Library draws upon the community in developing programs and actively partners with other agencies, our upcoming programs focus on topics of anti-racism and conflict resolution, facilitated by two community partners.
Estes Valley Crisis Advocates is partnering for a September book discussion of the bestseller “Me and White Supremacy”. The book is based upon an Instagram challenge, in which nearly 100,000 participants self-analyzed day-to-day racist behaviors in their lives, tendencies of which they were previously unaware.
The two-part Zoom discussion happens Monday, September 21 and 28, and participants may choose either the 10:30 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. time slot. Register here, then stop by for a copy
This October, for the third consecutive year, we’re partnering with Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership for a full series of Conflict Resolution Month programs.
This year’s featured book, chosen statewide, is We Need to Talk: how to have conversations that matter by Celeste Headlee. Catch her TED Talks on YouTube.
Studies show that Americans feel less connected and more divided than ever before. Part of the problem, Headlee believes, is the erosion of our conversational skills as a society. She outlines how we can improve these “conversations that matter”, whether it’s with our kids or teachers, our co-workers, or the loved ones in our lives.
Simply by signing up for any one of our Conflict Resolution Month programs, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of the book, while supplies last.
October’s programs include:
Storytime: Handling Big Feelings (October 1)
From Conflict to Connection: An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication Workshop (October 5)
Living Room Conversation: The Power of Empathy (October 9)
Book Discussion: “We Need to Talk” (October 13)
Living Room Conversation: Listening Courageously (October 14)
“You Can’t Unfriend Everybody” Workshop (October 20)
Living Room Conversation: Relationships First (October 22)
Living Room Conversation: More Curious, Less Furious (October 28)
We’re delighted for this continuing collaboration with Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership, which earned the Colorado Library Partnership of the Year Award in 2019.
Look for full details and continuing updates at estesvalleylibrary.org.