A Westview Ratepayers Society (WRS) representative outlined to city councillors a process for bridging community differences.
At the City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting on July 9, Kate Sutherland said the initiative was a project of the WRS education subcommittee.
“Like so many, I am deeply concerned by the divisiveness in this wonderful community,” said Sutherland. “I believe that an important part of helping us move forward is that we find ways to really listen to each other, and to get to speak to each other and know each other as people behind the positions that currently put people in different camps.”
Sutherland said she heard about an organization in the United States called Living Room Conversations. She said it has been helping people cross social and political divides to talk to each other in ways that have been impactful.
“The basic idea is this: that two people who have differing political opinions each invite two people to make a group of six,” said Sutherland. “They meet in a living room for a structured conversation.
“The opening round is about getting to know each other and asking questions like: what would their best friend say about you? Also, how do you understand your life’s purpose? They are questions that help people get to the heart.”
Sutherland said the second part of the conversation is about sharing perspectives on an issue that is contentious or divisive in some way. The third part of the conversation is a chance to reflect and for people to think about whether their perspective has changed, either about the issue in question or another person. It is an opportunity to discover if common ground has been found, added Sutherland.
She said it is a structured process, taking about 90 minutes. An 18-month study of the process was conducted by the Fetzer Institute in the United States, which found evidence of individual impacts and evidence of community impacts.
Sutherland said she brought this idea to WRS because she sees the organization has been dedicated to inclusivity and embracing the diversity of perspectives, and working to find common ground. It has run a pilot project.
From the evaluation forms, WRS learned that people who were typically uncomfortable talking about politicized topics with people who are different from them, felt very comfortable discussing the topics in the session, according to Sutherland. She added that people thought the sessions were valuable.
“The pilot sessions confirmed that the process can help us get better at having conversations across differences,” said Sutherland. “I felt very heard, as did others, and that helps us be more connected.
“My intention with the initiative, and why I brought it forward, was the idea of helping to strengthen the fabric in this community so we can talk to each other, and even if we don’t agree with each other, we can find a way of meeting with each other and learning from each other and finding good ways forward.”
Sutherland said her purpose in appearing before the committee was to inform members that this initiative was happening and to let everyone hearing the presentation know her next step is piloting orientation sessions for people interested in co-hosting their own conversations.
People interested in the initiative can contact Sutherland at [email protected].
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