The upcoming Humanities Council training program will help participants lead civil discussions.
THE application deadline to take part in the Northern Marianas Humanities Council’s Community Talks Program is Feb. 14.
The program is a three-day training opportunity that will be held on Feb. 24-26 at the Guma’ Hustisia. There is no cost to participate.
The facilitators are Jennifer Alkezweeny, a program director from Oregon Humanities, and Adam Davis, the executive director of Oregon Humanities.
According to a media release, participants will “gain skills to lead structured, open-ended conversations about ideas and big picture questions.”
Participants will also learn how to “explore different beliefs and perspectives by listening to each other and building community.”
The Humanities Council’s executive director, Leo Pangelinan, said he has participated in a community conversation facilitated by Davis on Guam.
He said Davis helps participants learn through practice — that is, he will facilitate conversations among them and help them plan ahead for difficulties that could arise in the conversation. Davis and Alkezweeny will be on hand to provide support.
Pangelinan said local participants will discuss topics such as “home and belonging,” “generational perspectives in family and community,” “nature and the environment,” and celebrating the Commonwealth’s 50th birthday in 2028.
Pangelinan said participants will learn how to lead civil conversations around difficult topics. Participants may also have an opportunity to facilitate community conversations for programs that the Humanities Council hosts in the future, should they be interested in doing so.
The point of the training is to “make [community members] meet more civilly in person,” he added.
“We felt there is a need for us to have better tools for talking with each other, particularly because of misinformation and what anonymity can provide you when you’re online,” he said. “Some of those issues spiral out to no end….”
He said even if participants don’t move on to lead civil conversations for the Humanities Council, they will be empowered to lead difficult conversations in their families or social groups.
For more information, go to nmhcouncil.org/communitytalks or email info@nmhcouncil.org/.
