Depolarizing Within: Exploring Braver Angels' Methods for Dialogues across Difference

Wednesday, March 2, 5-7 p.m.
Virtual Workshop

A free workshop to support you to become aware of your "inner polarizer" and learn methods for disagreeing without contempt and ridicule.

Much of today’s polarization is driven by how we talk with like-minded people about those on the other side. Too often, we stereotype, dismiss, or ridicule our fellow citizens who support the other political party, its leaders, and its policies.

This free workshop supports participants to build skills in:

• How to be more aware of their own "inner polarizer"
• How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population
• Strategies for intervening constructively in social conversations with like-minded peers when these conversations veer into contempt and ridicule for people who hold other political views.

Students who participate in this workshop can earn credit toward their Leadership and Service Certificate.

Workshop Moderators

Beverly Horstman joined Braver Angels in 2018 as a member and became trained as a moderator. In 2019, Beverly accepted the role of Ohio State Coordinator with the national organization, providing her with the ability to combine her personal commitment and her educational degree with 40 years of business experience. She has organized over 35 workshops and assisted as a co-moderator. As State Coordinator, Beverly actively supports the five local Braver Angels Alliances working throughout Ohio.

Eugene Rutz is Assistant Dean for eLearning and Emerging Programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati. He oversees the Master of Engineering programs and college eLearning initiative. Eugene also supports College international activities including faculty-led study abroad and teaches professional skills courses for engineering students. Eugene is a trained moderator for Braver Angels workshops and has led numerous online and on land workshops in Ohio and Kentucky.

Who should attend? Anyone interested in examining their own inner polarization and learning strategies to disagree without condemning or ridiculing others.

Co-sponsored by Miami University’s Robert E. Strippel Memorial Fund for Continuing Dialogue on Justice and Human Rights; the Menard Family Center for Democracy; and in partnership with Wilks Institute for Leadership and Service, NAACP Oxford Chapter, and the Global Initiatives' Center for American and World Cultures.

Resources

Braver Angels, Our Story, Building a House United

Understanding Political Polarization on Social Media, Politically Speaking Program presented by PBS Michiana. Aired: April 9, 2021

Everyday Heroes: COVID-19 Impact in Ohio’s Education Landscape

Unemployment, Hunger, and Housing Crisis: COVID-19 and the Pillars of Insecurity

The 2021 Panel Series is sponsored by the Robert E. Strippel Memorial Fund for Continuing Dialogue on Human Rights and Social Justice in partnership with the Center for American and World Cultures; Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities; the Ohio Department of Health; the Ohio Commission on Hispanic Latino Affairs; the Oxford Citizens for Peace and Justice; and MujerLatinaToday, media partner.

Co-curricular Program Goals

This program will provide:

1. opportunities to explore and establish a shared language regarding the meaning of equity, systemic equity and collective social responsibility to better define best practices of planning, response and recover from COVID-19 pandemic -locally and globally;
2. comprehensive health equity data, data analysis and outcomes regarding the overrepresentation of underrepresented communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio and beyond; and
3. an exposure to dialogue mechanisms to create a space for learning-sharing, reflection, and opportunities to take democratic civic action.

Learning outcomes

Participants will:

1. 1. reflect on how/why re-framing the meaning of equity, systemic equity and social responsibility can create, support and sustain a strong social justice leadership development;
   2. assess and summarize the key take away of their reflections and define how/ why is a matter to collective social responsibility to cultivate their personal and professional civic skill building capacities and democratic agency; and
   3. design action strategies focusing on equity, systemic equity and collective social responsibility best practices - to imagine alternatives to transform the present and the future of democratic, just and sustainable societies.

Co-Curricular Connections

For more information contact:

• Jacqueline Daugherty: daughejd@MiamiOH.edu or 513-529-3767
• Jacqueline Rioja Velarde: riojavjd@MiamiOH.edu or 513-529-6518

Resources

Health concerns from COVID-19 much higher among Hispanics and Blacks than Whites

Ensuring Equity in COVID-19 Planning, Response, and Recovery Decision Making

Ohio’s Executive Response: A Plan of Action to Advance Equity [PDF]

Equity vs. Equality and Other Racial Definitions

Impact of COVID-19 on people’s livelihoods, their health and our food systems

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for and equity-focused global health agenda

America: Equity and Equality in Health 3. Structural racism and health inequities in the USA: evidence and interventions

Hispanic women, immigrants, young adults, those with less education hit hardest by COVID-19 job losses

Economy and COVID-19 Top to the Public’s Policy Agenda for 2021

How structural racism harms Black Americans’ health

Ohio COVID-19 Minority Health Strike Force has a blueprint of recommendations to respond to the disparities.

COVID-19 Pandemic Has Increased Ohio's Human Trafficking Vulnerability While Diminishing Response

COVID-19 in Ohio hitting African Americans hardest

Census 2020: Ohioans at Risk of Undercounting and the Impact of Covid-19