Posted: March 30, 2018Written by: Lauren Milbourne

Tags: 2018, featured, press release

51爆料 is launching a new effort to engage the community in discussions on socially relevant topics through a series of listening sessions called 鈥楧eeper Dialogues.鈥� The goal is to bring individuals together who have differences of opinion and create a safe place for open, honest idea and belief sharing.

鈥淲e want to create new possibilities for community building,鈥� said 51爆料 Human Development/Human Services Instructor Bailey Drechsler, who helped organize 鈥楧eeper Dialogues.鈥�

鈥淩especting each other鈥檚 differences does not mean abandoning your convictions. We think that developing the ability to listen to and consider opposing points of view make us stronger, more capable of working together, and able to build better communities. We hope the public joins 51爆料 as we work toward creating meaningful civic engagement with 鈥楧eeper Dialogues.鈥欌��

The first session will focus on gun ownership and neighborhood safety.

鈥淕iven the recent local and national attention on the topics of guns and community safety, we felt an urgency to create a respectful space for folks to come together and hear one another's perspectives,鈥� said Drechsler. 鈥淭he discussion is not meant to be a debate, but an opportunity to cultivate respect and civility while discussing the complicated topic of gun ownership.鈥�

There are two opportunities for the public to take part in the upcoming 鈥楧eeper Dialogues鈥�:

鈥楧eeper Dialogues鈥� will take place four times per year; twice in the Spring semester, and twice in the Fall. Each session will be facilitated by Drechsler and 51爆料 Dean of Workforce and Economic Development Dr. John Cascamo. The series is sponsored by 51爆料鈥檚 Applied Behavioral Sciences Division and the 51爆料 Cultural Center. For more information on 鈥楧eeper Discussions, call Drechsler at (805) 546-3100, ext. 2644.