Common Bond Institute

Conference on

" Engaging The Other:"

The Power of Compassion

~ San Francisco, California ~

At a time when escalating polarization is the true culprit, a shared common-ground conference promoting respectful listening, dialogue, trust, and action to bridge the divides

Sponsored by:
    Common Bond Institute (CBI)
    International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)

Supported by:
    Michigan State University

Official Partner and Event of:
    Charter For Compassion and Parliament of World’s Religions

Endorsed by:
     An international list of over 100 organizations and universities

An interactive, working conference to:

  • Address rising polarization and animosity in our society
  • Advance a wider, inclusive public dialogue about toxic images of “Us and Them,”
  • and Promote compassionate, collaborative remedies and healing in our relationship with a perceived “Other.”

An opportunity to LEND YOUR VOICE, EARS and ACTION to a gathering of various “sides” and “Other” identities engaging together for 3 days of:

 

  • Developing a framework of trust,
  • Facilitating deep listening and constructive dialogue within a neutral, respectful space,
  • Increasing understanding and appreciation of different perspectives on meeting common needs and intentions,
  • Building a shared language to find commonalities and points of agreement,
  • Cultivating our capacity for genuine civic engagement, appreciation of diversity, and reconciliation,
  • Promoting effective, collaborative action planning for shared aims and bridging the divides.

~ A Conference For Everyone ~

The program is highly participatory, encouraging all attendees to contribute through topical round-tables, dialogue and action planning groups, open space, a resource hub, on-site blogging, and other interactive aspects that lead to practical applications and collaboration beyond the conference. Skilled facilitators bring their expertise and proven methods to add to the quality and effectiveness of a working community.

An important, timely dialogue
….everyone needs to be part of.

Goals and Possible Outcomes

This year’s ETO program focuses on:

  • Toxic divisions, distrust, hatred, and enemy images intensifying across our society,
        and
  • Creating a shared space to promote deep listening, mutual understandings, appreciation, support, and concerted cooperation in finding common ground and practical visions for strategic action on healing the divide.

Through respectful, person-to-person engagement in a trusting environment the conference seeks to identify both common ground on fundamental needs & intentions, and how we may differ on how to go about meeting those needs and intentions we have in common. Along the way fundamental questions, dilemmas, and implications are considered, including how hostile, enemy identity is formed, perpetuated, and manipulated, and how to challenge embedded negative belief systems that ascribe nefarious intent and promote adversarial perceptions of “The Other.”

 

The central task is to tap our shared wisdom, compassion, and responsibility in developing practical strategies for applying results to the current state of relationships, and create immediate opportunities for collaborative action following the conference.

Outcomes are co-created by conference participants.

Examples of possible outcomes and follow-up may include:

 

1) Linking with other like-purposed events and efforts to contribute to the stream of like-purposed initiatives around the country by progressively building on each others energy and outcomes for a larger and sustained impact.

2) Producing a resource of information, references, and opportunities for participants to become involved in efforts to place the topic on the wider public table, increase awareness and solidarity, and encourage empowered civic engagement.

3) Formulating findings and preparing joint recommendations on reducing polarization and animosity within the public discourse for public policy makers, social-political representatives, and the general public.

4) Promoting working networks of transpartisan bridge-building activists conducting on-going community-based dialogue groups across the country to widen public involvement and continue the process of compassionate engagement.

5) Developing a regularly meeting virtual working group of key stakeholders to follow up on identified points of common ground and interests, and explore proactive possibilities for mutual support and cooperation in advancing them.

6) A shift away from distrust, division, polarization, and hostility in public conversation, and toward a more civil and constructive path for addressing honest issues of disagreement we as a society have different perspectives and opinions on.

FORMAT AND CONTENT:

The conference is a highly interactive learning community meant to build from day to day toward collaborative action plans applied beyond the conference. Sessions are designed to offer space for deep listening, exploring common needs, intentions, and concerns, sharing diverse perspectives, imparting knowledge and skill, and stimulating increased understanding, practical applications, and next steps in putting principles into practice.

In-depth Dialogue and deliberation are the essential engines of the conference. As such, a central driving feature of the program is conducting interactive topical round tables and dialogue groups to actively engage all participants in exploring and addressing conference themes, and contributing their expertise, perspectives, and personal experiences.

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Structure of the ETO Conference. A 3 day working program of:

    • Interactive topical round tables
    • World Cafe’
    • All-conference Dialogues and Action Planning
    • Facilitated Dialogue and Action Planning Break-out Groups
    • Resource and Networking HUB
    • Daily Blog Summaries
    • Live 2-way Virtual Links with key stakeholders
    • Final Processing, Action Planning, and Collaboration building session for next steps beyond conference.
    • Rich Networking and Collaboration Opportunities

Examples of Participants:

Community and Social-Political activist and leaders, Peace activists, Government and NGO representatives, Cultural/ethnic and spiritual community representatives, Members of minority and majority groups, Human service providers, Visionaries and front-line thought leaders, Academics and students, Social Science researchers, Representatives of university departments, professional associations, academic groups, and anyone from the public drawn to the mission of the conference.

Coordination and Cooperation with Other Efforts:

One of the central goals of the ETO Conference is to contribute to the stream of like-purposed initiatives around the country, to help support and build on each other’s processes and outcomes for a larger and sustained impact. By using available communication technologies during and between events, and design cooperation such as linking program elements to create a flow from one event to the next, we hope to promote additional coordination and synergy between such efforts.

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* DONATE

to allow us to offer free participation to all
Tax Deductible donations can be make through our partner 501(c)3 federal nonprofit organization:
International Humanistic Psychology Association (IHPA)
at: www.ihpaworld.org
If you wish more details please contact us at:
SOlweean@aol.com or 1-269-665-9393