THE Northern Marianas Humanities Council and Humanities Guåhan will offer a three-day civic reflection facilitation training event for up to five participants from the CNMI. The event is scheduled for January 25-27 at the Humanities Guåhan’s office in Guam and will be conducted by two master trainers from Oregon Humanities.
Individuals who undergo training will learn the methods of the civic reflection conversational model. According to the Center for Civic Reflection at Salisbury University, civic reflection uses a shared source (such as a poem, image or film) to help groups of people think and talk more deeply about their shared world and differing values and commitments. Trained facilitators act as conversation guides. They explore varied opinions and support participant explanations, rather than moderate discussion.
Individuals that complete the training must commit to co-facilitating a series of six, 90-minute conversations, either online or in-person, with the same group of people over an extended period of time.
“Sustaining a conversation over time using the civic reflection method works to create a safe space where participants feel comfortable to share their perspectives and really address and discuss the issues at hand,” said Dr. Kimberlee Kihleng, executive director for Humanities Guåhan. “We’re really looking forward to working with our CNMI partner to engage and encourage our residents to share their experiences and perspectives on important civic issues.”
With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities’ “A More Perfect Union: America at 250” initiative, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council will sponsor travel related expenses for participants from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to attend the training on Guam with 15 other participants. Humanities Guåhan will cover the training fee for participants as part of its Reimagining Guåhan: Social Justice through a Humanities Lens project funded under the same NEH initiative.
“This training should help develop the capacity among our residents to engage in meaningful, civil discourse on topics and issues of interest to our community,” said Leo Pangelinan, executive director for the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. “I am excited for this work with Humanities Guåhan and look forward to how these conversations may lead to action or change efforts in our communities.”
Residents of the CNMI who are 18 years of age or older who can commit to the three-day training workshop and co-facilitating a series of conversations among CNMI residents are encouraged to complete an application form online at: http://www.nmhcouncil.org/civics-app by Dec. 23, 2021. Applicants selected for this opportunity will be notified of a decision by January 6, 2022. For more information, send your questions to: info@nmhcouncil.org, or call 235-4785.
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council is a private, non-profit (Educational Tax Credit eligible) organization established in the CNMI in 1991. Its mission is to navigate and explore the human experiences of the indigenous and diverse peoples of the Commonwealth by enriching their lives through research, dialogue, programs, and publications.
Leo Pangelinan
