In today’s world, it’s tempting to remove people from our lives who have different opinions than we do, creating an echo chamber where the only thoughts we hear are ones that mirror our own. It doesn’t take long to fall into unhealthy behavior patterns that reinforce our differences and eliminate the opportunity to work together on the issues that matter. Join us for an interactive workshop to learn how to use storytelling to have productive, meaningful discussions with people who don’t think, vote, or believe the same way you do.

Our brains are wired for survival. When you first meet a person, your brain almost instantly judges them to determine if they are a threat. Are they a friend or foe—a part of your group—or an outsider? This fast-paced session will help you better understand the subtle inner workings of your brain and behavior that influence how you perceive and interact with others— and how they perceive and interact with you. We’ll cover how your mind works, how groups work, and how understanding the neuroscience and social science behind polarization can help you become more resilient to toxic forms of division.

These days, many of us live with a sense of unease about our country’s divides. There are topics we know we can’t discuss within our faith communities or across the Thanksgiving dinner table. We know we fundamentally disagree on key issues, and we fear we cannot bridge the gap with those we live alongside. This session provides an opportunity to explore these fears and feelings around division within our communities and learn about how division affects us within our groups and across divides. 

Why in the world do we do the things we do? So much of our behavior is shaped by the shared norms of society. There are unspoken rules about where to stand on an elevator, what to do when you sneeze, and how to respond when someone accidentally bumps into you. In this fun workshop, you’ll learn all about how to shape positive norms in your home, church, and community and create positive peer pressure to do good.

If you’ve been shaking your head at the misinformation spreading on social media, this training is for you. We’re ready to tackle a hard truth—in today’s world it can be almost (but not nearly) impossible to know what information to trust and even harder to help family, friends, and neighbors who have fallen victim to misinformation. But, we are not powerless against misinformation. You’ll walk away from this training with actionable tips to confront misinformation when you see it and help your loved ones to do the same.