Dignity Dialogues Workshops
Dignity Dialogues offers a variety of workshops to overcome divisiveness, prejudice, and acrimony by making peace and honoring human dignity. While we encourage diversity among workshop participants, they can also be effective with homogeneous groups that simply want to prepare for difficult conversations within their communities. The experiences are highly participatory. Each step along the way, we take time to learn the names, look into the faces, and understand the stories of those who are different from ourselves.
Workshops may be scheduled as stand alone sessions or as a series of up to six two-hour sessions over a period of weeks. We prefer to do them face-to-face in Central Florida, but we realize that is not always practical. So, we are prepared to deliver them live via video conference as well.
The curriculum may be customized on demand to fit the audience.
Awareness
Where do our biases, fears, and hatred come from? Why are they so powerful? How do we begin to consider other ideas and points of view?
In this workshop we reflect on the people and experiences that have shaped our attitudes about those who are unlike us. We begin to look at the process of change through lessons learned from
a poignant TED Talk by Meghan Phelps-Roper.
Dignity
What is dignity? Why is it so important in the human experience? What are the essential elements of dignity and how are we tempted to violate it.
This workshop lays out the
Dignity Model developed by Dr. Donna Hicks and explained in her own words. We explore and share events in our lives that have either affirmed or violated our dignity.
Vulnerability
How do we run from vulnerability. Why should we embrace it? How can embracing vulnerability open doors to love, beauty, gratitude, and joy?
Here we examine the concepts of shame vs. worthiness and exclusion vs. connection. In a related
TED Talk, Dr. Brené Brown introduces the notion of “wholeheartedness” and why it is important to let ourselves be seen by others.
Fear
What is fear-based thinking? How does it restrict our thinking and blind us to solutions? How do we get stuck in it? What does it take to free ourselves from fear-based thinking?
Fear is a powerful emotion that is often used in politics, religion, and hate groups to motivate and manipulate people. This session draws from the insightful writings of, Bob Van Oosterhout who teaches that
truth is the antidote to fear.
Forgiveness
Why forgive? How does it make us whole? What are the critical steps in Desmond Tutu’s fourfold path to forgiveness. How does forgiveness free us from past injuries?
Until we forgive, we remain locked in our pain and locked out of the possibility of being at peace with ourselves and others. Forgiveness allows us to embrace our shared humanity and restore dignity.
Making Peace
How do we make peace with ourselves and those whom we misunderstand and condemn? How does peace break down and how does it play out in everyday relationships. Why must it start with “me”.
In this session we examine our personal responsibility for the conflicts in our lives. Conflict is a choice, and so is peace. There are always other options. In the context of the intriguing story told in Arbinger Institute’s
Anatomy of Peace, we find practical guidance for making peace.
