Joan Blades
THURSDAY | JANUARY 7, 2021 | 7:30-9:00 pm MST
Political, generational, ideological, economic and religious differences are a huge problem in families, communities, and our nation. What can be done to get us to be “fellow” citizens again? Explore a simple and successful process you can follow to be part of the solution.
GATHERING AT:
Your home or hang out of choice via Zoom.
Thanks to Jana Spangler hosting us via Zoom. Below is some helpful info for being part of a Zoom convo. I will also note below the Zoom address so that you can connect. If you are not on my email list then either join at the bottom of this site’s home page or text or call me at 801-695-5036.
THE CONVERSATION:
If our country is going to move forward and address the most difficult issues that confront us, then it will require citizens seeing each other beyond political colors and ideologies. Learn how even approximately following a simple proven outline can help you develop more healthy, constructive, respectful relationships with those of difference. Joan will talk about what brought her to this space and why we so desperately need it at this time. Utah resident Becca Kearl, an LRC Managing Partner, will also join us to share some of her experiences utilizing Living Room Conversations and why she has become so invested in this process. After Q&A we will explore the critical issue of trust —or lack thereof—in our institutions, in our conversations, and each other. You can checkout the outline here.
As always, there is no pressure to participate, but if you do, please be brief, respectful of uncomfortable ideas, and remember to share air time. You can find guidelines for productive conversations here).
ABOUT JOAN BLADES
Joan is a co-founder of LivingRoomConversations.org an open source effort to build respectful caring connections across ideological, cultural and party lines while embracing our core-shared values. When we care about each other we work to find ways to meet each other’s core needs. She is also a co-founder of MomsRising.org and MoveOn.org She is a co-author of The Custom-Fit Workplace, winner of a Nautilus Book Award in 2011 and The Motherhood Manifesto, which won the Ernesta Drinker Ballard Book Prize in 2007. A mediator (attorney) by training and inclination, she is a nature lover, artist and true believer in the power of citizens. Joan lives and promotes the idea that we can honor the dignity of all individuals and seek understanding even as we hold differing beliefs.
In her prior life, she and her husband Wes Boyd co-founded Berkeley Systems, a San Francisco Bay area software company that marketed the popular After Dark screensaver and the You Don’t Know Jack trivia game.
Blades received her B.A. in History from UC Berkeley and her J.D. from the Golden Gate University School of Law.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION
Passcode: *H6KLegn
TIPS FOR BETTER ZOOMING
Before you begin the Zoom Conversation:
- Prior to when we meet, get your camera and mic ready and troubleshoot any problems. It would be wise to do a dry run with the camera and microphone on your device before we converse. Best to have the camera at eye level so that it is as if we would talk to each other in person. You can use a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop.
- If you are having difficulty with the technology, don’t hold up the meeting by distracting other participants for solutions. Try Googling your problem. I do that with most of my life’s problems.
- Find a quiet place to get comfortable and that you can hang out in for a couple of hours.
- Be aware that the rest of the group can see you and what is behind you. Avoid as best you can having bright lights, distracting images, or people or pets wandering around behind you. No Bigfoot bombing in the background please.
- Please don’t wander around doing other things or eating. Or if you do, make sure your sound and video are muted.
- Mute your microphone when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else
- Resist the urge to multitask—be with us, people. Knitting is still allowed though.
- Please share air time and follow the guidelines under “Intentions” on this website.
To enter the Zoom conversation:
- Click on the Zoom link above.
- The link Zoom should open, and you should be able to see and hear other participants. Or wait until the host opens the meeting. Check that you muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
- If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. Also, make sure you have your volume up.
