Dialogue experience

Topic: AbortionUsing the Public Conversations

Project Model

How is it done?

Pre-dialogue prep Dinner General groundrules:• Speak one’s own truth -- about oneself --

without attacking or blaming others. (In other words, talk about your own feelings, not your group’s position)

• Listen with openness and wonder for deep understanding

How is it done?

Pre-dialogue prep Dinner Starting the actual dialogue

Step 1: setting groundrules.

Groundrules

We will speak for ourselves and from our own experience.

We will not criticize the views of other participants or attempt to persuade them.

We will listen with resilience, “hanging in” when what is said is hard to hear.

General Groundrules

Regarding the form of our speaking and listening, We will participate within the time frames

suggested by the facilitator. We will follow the structure suggested by the

facilitator We will not interrupt except to indicate that

we cannot hear a speaker. We will “pass” if we do not wish to speak.

General Groundrules

We will reflect before speaking to avoid knee-jerk or defensive reactions

We will ask questions out of genuine curiosity, not to “get” someone.

We agree to keep what is said in this room confidential, unless explicitly agreed to otherwise.

Ground rule clarification & confirmation

Are there any questions about what these ground rules mean or what is expected of you?

Does anyone want to propose other ground rules?

Can we all agree to follow these ground rules and will you allow me to enforce them if someone forgets to follow one?

Question 1: Introductions and Hopes

Please say your name and tell us in 1-2 sentences why you were interested in participating in this dialogue. What do you hope to get out of it?

Question 2:

What concerns do you have about talking about abortion with others on “the other side”? Do you see any value for doing so? Why or why not? Let’s take a minute or two to collect our thoughts… Take a minute to collect your thoughts, and you can

jot some ideas down on paper if you’d like to. Then anyone can start…and we will go in a

clockwise circle after that. You can pass if you are not ready to talk…I will

check back with you later.

Question 3:

Now, please take about 1-2 minutes each to tell us a bit about your own life experience or current situation that has influenced or shaped your thoughts about abortion in the United States.

Question 3:

So what in your life experience has influenced your current thoughts about abortion? Anyone of you can start when you are ready. Then

we’ll go around in a circle. If we come to you before you are ready, you can

pass and I’ll check in with you later to see if you’d like to speak.

Dialogue Exercise – Question 4

Within your general perspective on the issue, have you or do you experience any dilemmas or mixed feelings, or are there gray areas in your thinking? This time we’ll do “popcorn” responses…

anyone can answer in any order, but please…

No interrupting.

Dialogue Exercise: Question 5

During divisive political debates on abortion, are there ways that your values and perspectives are stereotyped by the “other side”?

Is there something you’d really like the “other side” to understand about you?

Popcorn style again.

Dialogue exercise – question 6

Now I’d like to open up the discussion and allow you to ask questions of each other.

Remember though, these questions should be ones of genuine curiosity—about things that you heard that you didn’t understand and would like to learn more about.

You can also reflect on ideas that you heard that surprised you.

Closing

Our time here is coming to an end. Are there any parting words that you’d like to say to bring your participation to a close?

Are there one or two things you are particularly going to remember about this conversation?

Thank you!

I want to sincerely thank everyone for being willing to participate in this exercise and share their views in this setting.

I know this is sometimes scary and difficult, and I very much appreciate your willingness to share this experience today.

If there is anything you would like to talk about regarding this event at a later time, please feel free to contact us….