Community Conversations are events that invite the community to come together to share space and talk about potentially difficult issues.  Join us for this virtual training to learn how you can create your own events to have community conversations in your churches, neighborhoods or organizations.  The training will be lead by experts in community building from Out of Hand Theater and Music in Common.

Why talk?

Having meaningful conversation is critical to disrupting systems that separate us. Often we are engaging each other and yet, we don’t understand what the other is saying. Meaningful conversations that build trust and human connection are one of the most important steps to building communities where everyone feels heard and seen. And where healing is possible.  Having these conversations allows us to:

  • Deepen our understanding of others
  • Build community with like minded people
  • Discover ways we can act collectively
  • Build confidence in talking about emotionally charged topics

About Out of Hand Theater

Out of Hand works at the intersection of art, social justice, and civic engagement. We help create a more just world through programs that combine theater and film with information and conversation.

Since 2001, Out of Hand has collaborated with dozens of community partners to produce programs that combine art to open hearts, information to open minds, and conversation to process feelings and thoughts and make a plan for action. Our programs include Equitable Dinners, Shows in Homes, Community Collaborations, Creative Kids, and the Institute for Equity Activism. All of our programs are based on two pillars, racial justice and economic justice, and they take place in homes, schools, businesses, houses of worship, public spaces, and on Zoom

About Music in Common

Music in Common strengthens, empowers, and connects communities through the universal language of music. We curate experiences for people across social divides to discover common ground through facilitated conversation and music. At our core, we hold high two foundational principles: it is hard to hate up close and music can change the world.

Our proven person-to-person methodology is informed by evidence-based social psychology and education models that help communities work through conflict. Gordon Allport's Intergroup Contact Theory, Elliot Aronson's Jigsaw Classroom, and 21st Century Learning's Four C's (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking) are the cornerstones of our unique approach.

When you register at the link below, you will get a confirmation email with the Zoom link.