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New Conversations Tool Creates a Common Experience
In May of 2006, I hosted a New Conversations group with members of the Committee on Racial and Ethnic ministry of the Synod Lakes and Prairies of the Presbyterian Church USA.
I participated in an absolutely engaging discussion about race and racism in a way that moved beyond talking about abstracts such as organizational policies and practices. The participants opened up and talked about their own lives and vocations.
This was a group that had worked on the issues of racism for many years and yet they had many personal realizations. For example, one man, a retired teacher, was watching one of the scenarios in which two family members discuss racism. The man said he would absolutely have avoided that conversation with his family. By watching the video he realized how important having the conversation was.
The group as a whole did some reflection on the new strategies for talking about racism introduced by New Conversations. They started to practice some of the new ways to engage in conversations.
My experience with New Conversations is that it is an effective tool to create a common experience that opens the door to have the conversation about racism. It is a group process. The whole idea of New Conversations is to bring people together. That’s what is so beneficial. It’s bringing people together to have these vitally important conversations.
– Elona Street-Stewart.
Elona is a staff member at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, president of the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education and a member of the Facing Race Advisory Committee.
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Taking Time for Conversation
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I Was Raised on the American Dream
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Thinking About Race in a New Way
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Understanding People Different from Yourself
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Talking About Race for the First Time Ever
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