Manchester Talks! A Community Kitchen Table presents Depolarizing Within workshop
submitted by Manchester Voices Indivisible
When was the last time you were willing to risk a little discomfort and have a conversation with someone who thinks differently from you, if only to understand where they are coming from? It’s certainly an understatement to say that we just don’t talk anymore, and that we are disadvantaged because of it. As humans, it is in our nature to seek connection, yet we are uncomfortable, even fearful of reaching across the aisle to speak to someone who thinks or believes differently from us. What are we afraid of? We are afraid of what we don’t know, and not knowing makes it easy to fill in the blanks with imagined stories and misinformation. This is not a productive way to run a civil, thriving society. Braver Angels, a non-partisan, non-profit organization originating out of southwestern Ohio, believes that Americans of all colors have common values, and given the right tools and opportunity still have the desire to connect with each other and even transform the polarization we are experiencing right now toward a spirit of the beloved community.
As a continuation of Manchester Talks! — A Community Kitchen Table, Manchester Voices Indivisible is partnering with Braver Angels to bring their workshop Depolarizing Within to Manchester on Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 1pm to 4pm, at Sharon Township Hall, 18010 Pleasant Lake Rd. The workshop’s goals are to help participants become more aware of their inner polarizer, learn how to criticize viewpoints without stereotyping, dismissing, ridiculing, and holding contempt for those who disagree with them, and to develop ways of speaking up in polarizing conversations with peers about people on the other side. If you are interested in reducing the divisiveness in relationships with neighbors, friends, and family, this workshop is a great start. There is no cost to attend. Register by emailing depolarizingRSVP@manchester-voices-indivisible.org.
The Depolarizing Within workshop on September 27 is the kick-off of a series of moderated discussions that Manchester Voices Indivisible is hosting on the third Wednesday of each month through the fall, covering issues pertinent to our local community and beyond. Keep an eye out for more details in the coming weeks. We would also like to hear from you. What concerns do you have? What discussion topics would interest you? Find us on FB (Manchester Voices Indivisible) and leave us a note, or email us at Info@manchester-voices-indivisible.
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