Co-host a Living Room Conversation and find out how much you have in common with your neighbor.

We believe civil discourse in the United States can be respectful, constructive, collaborative, solution focused and conducive to empowering healthy communities.

Sadly, at this time, the art of civil conversation and the ability to harness the power of genuine connectedness and alignment is at a historic low. Political parties are failing to collaborate or even compromise, to the detriment of our future. It is time for the citizens to lead the leaders.

Living Room Conversations are designed to revitalize the art of conversation among people with diverse views and remind our fellow Americans of the power and beauty of civil discourse.

Between December 2010 and June 2011, we conducted a pilot project,  eight Living Room Conversations convened in five states – Colorado, California, Washington, New Hampshire and North Carolina. For these first conversations, we chose the topic of energy independence/climate change.  We tested the hypothesis that people can come together through their social networks, as friends and friends of friends, and engage in a self-guided, structured conversation about a charged political issue. Each conversation had self-identified “progressive” and “conservative” co-hosts. Each host invited two of their friends or family members who shared their political worldview to join an evening of conversation. We are thrilled to report that these initial conversations demonstrated that meaningful conversation is not only possible in this context, it is, in fact, deeply appreciated, and for many participants was transformational. Participants expressed surprise that it was possible to “go so deep” with people they did not know and gratitude for the experience.  More than half indicated a desire to have more conversations of this nature.  You can read the full report about the pilot project.

Individuals, faith organizations, clubs, schools, advocacy organizations and legislatures could benefit from initiating Living Room Conversations that allow for focus on their top concerns.

This is an Open Source project that is free for everyone to share.  We dream of respectful conversation becoming the new normal.    

Please join us!