Coffee Conversations
at First Parish of Sudbury
What are the takeaways from our first 250 years as a country?
What exemplifies the good, the bad, and the ugly of it all?
How do we heal divisions and plan for the future?
In anticipation of the forthcoming REV250 activities across the region in 2025 & 2026, Athina's programming, including Coffee Conversations, will tackle these questions throughout 2024 by focusing on American Political Institutions, Documents, and Principles, their role in our history, and their ability (or inability) to sustain us going into the next 250 years.
Coffee Conversations (1) take place at First Parish of Sudbury on the last Thursday of each month from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Participation is FREE and open to the public (registration is not required).
Each conversation has a theme with curated questions, and Athina facilitators manage the flow of activities. We meet in the First Parish Community Room (2nd floor), and light refreshments are served.
Themes for the first half of 2024:
January 25—Preamble to the Constitution
February 29—Free Speech
March 28—Inalienable Rights of Whom?
April 25— The Role of State & Local Government
May 30—New Amendments
June 27—Civics Education
To allow for a rich discussion that is inclusive and respectful, all participants must agree to the following Values and Guidelines:
Practice Active Listening
The road to dialogue(2) is more about listening than talking. This is an opportunity to build this critical skill in a conversational setting. It is also a way to learn more about the experiences and perspectives of others.
Suspend Judgment
Judgment is a considerable obstacle to dialogue building. We all hold assumptions and implicit bias, and this creates judgment. Setting aside your assumptions and judgment can open you up to new possibilities. Practice active listening by focusing on what others say without interruption or unsolicited advice.
Speak from Your Experience
Please speak for yourself only, based on your own experience, not on others or a group. To learn more about the experiences of others, make space and allow others to share their experiences.
THINK
Be thoughtful in what you wish to share by THINKing before speaking. Is what you want to say…
True?
Helpful?
Inspiring?
Necessary?
Kind?
Step Up, Step Back
We all benefit from hearing different perspectives. If you tend to dominate a discussion or notice that some people are not sharing, step back to make space for the quiet voices. Conversely, if you often hold back, be brave—step up and share your perspective.
Be Responsible
We are all responsible for holding each other accountable. If you notice someone not adhering to the guidelines, gently speak up or motion for the facilitator.
Coffee Conversations is inspired by the work of other organizations, most notably Living Room Conversations.
We define “dialogue” as “the two-way communication of two or more people willing to actively listen to one another in a respectful and equitable manner, in which participants consciously attempt to suspend assumptions and are open to the possibility of changing their own perspectives.” (Fontes, 2021) A conversation doesn’t always adhere to this definition but can, through hard work and practice, evolve into dialogue.
This program is organized and facilitated by Athina Education
in partnership with First Parish of Sudbury.
