Free workshops, calls for proposals, & upcoming events!
Register now to reserve your spot in our free fall workshop series designed to improve collaborative discussion skills
Dear Friends,
We’re excited to offer three new fall workshops designed to strengthen your collaborative discussion skills. Whether you're an educator, facilitator, community leader, student, or simply someone who wants to have better conversations, these workshops introduce practical tools you can use in the classroom, workplace, or community.
Led by nationally recognized scholar-practitioners, each workshop offers a hands-on, interactive experience. You will have the opportunity to learn with others in this fast paced, two-hour session. Seats are limited. Please register now for these free workshops.
Scroll down to learn more about our call for a Learning Management System developer/designer. We wrap up this newsletter with a list of upcoming events.
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Featuring Workshop #1: Creativity in Collaborative Discussion: New Tools and Practices for Getting Beyond Fixed Thinking with Dr. Don Waisanen
September 10 | 6–8 pm EDT | Small Group | Online
Why Don?
Dr. Don Waisanen, a professor at Baruch College (CUNY) and Columbia University, is a pioneer in using improvisation to strengthen civic discourse. His book, Improv for Democracy, equips leaders to foster creativity, adaptability, and better public conversations.
Why would you want to enhance creativity in discussions?
Move beyond fixed thinking to unlock more adaptive, joyful, and innovative ways to work together—especially in challenging times.
This workshop explores how creativity in discussions can help us to expand possibilities, challenge defaults or biases, and build social trust in classrooms, workplaces, or communities. You will have the opportunity to workshop this activity with Don and provide essential feedback before it is published in the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit. You will also practice this activity and learn how to adapt it for your own purposes.
Featuring Workshop #2: Listening to Improve Collaborative Discussion: Turning Monologue into Dialogue with Dr. John Igwebuike
September 6 | 10 am – 12 pm EDT | Small Group | Online
Why John?
Dr. John Igwebuike is a nationally recognized active listening activist, founder of The Lead Listening Institute, and creator of the Guanacaste: Transformational Listening Conference. His TEDx talk on the T.I.M.E. method offers a powerful framework for becoming a better listener. Watch his TEDx Talk – “Strategies for Active Listening.”
Why would you want to improve your active listening skills in discussions?
Stop talking past each other, and start building real understanding.
This workshop will help you to transform monologue into dialogue by focusing on specific listening skills. You will have the opportunity to explore listening from both listener- and speaker-centered perspectives. You will gain a deeper understanding of how listening can strengthen dialogue, relationships, and collective problem-solving. You will have the opportunity to provide John with constructive feedback on this specific activity before it is published in the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit.
Featuring Workshop #3: Surfacing Community Concerns and Values with Dr. Lori Britt
October 1 | 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm EDT | Small Group | Online
Why Lori?
Dr. Lori Britt, Director of Communication Studies at James Madison University and Co‑Director of ICAD, brings deep expertise in civic dialogue and community engagement.
Why are community concerns and values essential for collaborative discussion?
Identify the needs and priorities of a community, rather than just those of the individuals within it.
This workshop explores how we can use publicly available information to uncover collective values, concerns, and priorities at the community level. You will also learn how to invite community members into conversations grounded in shared concerns. Through practicing this activity with Lori, you will learn how to adapt these skills for your own spaces as well as provide feedback on this resource before it is published in the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit.
Learning Management System Call for Proposals
We are seeking proposals to design and deliver a Learning Management System (LMS) that supports our expanding educational and civic engagement programs. The LMS will serve as a central platform for delivering accessible, scalable, and interactive training to educators, civic practitioners, and community leaders. Click here to learn more.
Upcoming Events
September 28: Registration closes for 2-day, virtual Coach Training with Don Waisanen
October 22: Registration closes for 2-day, virtual Coach Training with Lori Britt
October 25: Guanacaste Annual Listening Conference in Chicago
Nov 18: Free Webinar—Intro to the Collaborative Discussion Toolkit
Jan 17: Registration closes for 2-day, virtual Coach Training with John Igwebuike
Thanks,
Shannon & The Interactivity Foundation Team