We decided to begin with listening skills, since that quality is often needed before any meaningful dialogues could take place. Listening can open many doors that have been closed and release many negative emotions that have built up over time. As one participant put it , “I never felt so completely listened to in my life!” The time of snack and fellowship, which was scheduled to last about 20-30 minutes, went much longer, and positive after glow seemed to permeate the group. People wanted to stay in community.
A few questions-
What do you think brought so many people out on this warm June afternoon?
What might a measure of “these gatherings being successful” or “working” be?
It seems like start and end times (coming and going) are much more fluid in the city… any thoughts?