Featured Café... The Red Vic Peace Center, San Francisco, California
Why Conversation Cafés?
Promoting community, democracy and wisdom world-wide through generating millions of open, respectful public conversations.
At Conversation Cafés, we will learn together how to create a culture of conversation-which is a culture of intelligence, peace, and political awareness. We are the media. We are the talk shows. We are America, waking up and tuning in.
Conversation Week 2008 is over,
but the learning carries on.
Inspiring Conversation Week stories are coming in from around the world Below is Ron Gross' story from New York City, which we found wonderfully evocative of the spirit of CW and how it can be enacted on the streets of a major city. Ron's a CC columnist, and author of Socrates' Way .
Conversation Week in New York
("Law & Order style")by Ronald Gross
Ronald Gross co-chairs the University Seminar on Innovation at Columbia University, where he also conducts Socratic Conversations at the Gottesman Libraries at Teachers College. His latest book is SOCRATES' WAY, published by Tarcher ( www.SocratesWay.com ).How would it feel if you were involved in a great conversation every day for a week? What impact might it have on your mind and spirit? I tried to answer that question during Conversation Week 2008, March 24-30, a global initiative spearheaded by Conversation Cafe and Global Mindshift . (My personal thanks to the Gang of Six: Vicki, Lorie, Susan, Leif, Kern, and Alan - for their incredible inspiration, guidance, and support.)
If you'd joined me on the streets of Manhattan during that week, here are a half-dozen examples of what you would have seen and heard - "Law & Order" style. So cue up that staccato Ba-dum.
Ba-dum! Monday, 10:45 a.m., on the steps of the NY Public Library on Fifth Ave. and 42nd Street.
I held against my chest a bright yellow placard that read: LET'S TALK, NEW YORK! (This rhymes - but only in New York!, notes Melanie Frey, who came up with the slogan.)
Once four people had been enticed to sit down on the steps, I handed out The Ten Questions, which had been suggested to groups worldwide for Conversation Week discussion. Our little group gravitated to #8: "What Kind of Leadership Does the World Need Now?"
This being NY, one of the group, Jules, already had the ANSWER - which he kindly provided to the rest of us so that we could save ourselves a lot of valuable time.
To which one of the others responded brusquely (this being NY): "WHOA!, amigo! I've got more to say about that!"
By this time three others had latched onto the group, and all of us went at it. I introduced my wristwatch as a "Talking Object" - it can be any item that's handy, and that can be passed from person to person. When you are holding the Talking Object, you have the floor, with no cross-talk. More....
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Conversation Cafés are lively hosted conversations among small groups of people with diverse views but a shared passion for engaging with others. Held in public spaces like cafés, restaurants and bookstores.
Conversation Cafés provide an open forum to talk about important topics over a cup of coffee or tea.
People of every philosophical, political and personality stripe circle up around tables and steaming beverages to earnestly shift from small talk to BIG talk. Everyone is welcome. There's nothing to join. Anyone can come, just once or many times. There are no books to read, no assignments, and no dues (except a bite to eat at the café).Conversation Cafés can not only provide closer communities, they can also be a conduit to providing additional local business exposure. Read more...
| What's Happens at a Café? I'm sitting next to Jerry Garcia at the Grateful Bread. Okay, I'm actually sitting next to a life-size painting of Jerry nailed to a chair back-so, like everyone else in the café, I am technically alone. Typical, isn't it, in our disconnected world? Ten tables seating four to six. Ten people. And just one person per table. But tonight is different. It's Thursday evening, Conversation Café time. I'm ready for some BIG talk. More... |
How a Café Works... In neighborhoods all over Seattle, throughout the country and throughout the world, conversation among strangers is catching on. The conversations are all about big issues and deep questions. What it means to be an American. where can I make a difference in the world. how can we come together in peace. what am I learning in the post-September 11th world. I am strangely and strongly attracted to Conversation Cafés. Why? What is it that holds my attention and calls others to participate on rainy, dark Seattle nights? What makes this confab so different from the conversations at work, at parties and with family members? More... |
| Hosts...helping Folks Talk and Listen Hosts welcome and orient people to the Conversation Café process. A good host is a cross between a flight attendant, a coach, a mother, an old philosopher and an innocent child. Hosting is as simple as following instructions on a cake mix and as complex as making all guests comfortable at a dinner party. Hosts are NOT therapists, NOT shining examples, and NOT impartial facilitators. They are simply the steady, welcoming presence that allows a great conversation to happen. More... |
A Café Owner's Experience with CCs... In Pegasus Coffee House, on the first floor of a small two-story ivy-covered historical brick building a short block from the marina on Bainbridge Island, Hazel Van Evera and her staff have created a cozy and intimate setting, and everyone gets a warm reception when they walk through the door. Pegasus is home for a number of groups who have met regularly for years in early morning, lunch or afternoon klatches, and serves an eclectic and loyal group of local patrons. They serve espresso and coffee drinks (shade grown, organic and fairly traded); an impressive variety of aromatic teas; heavenly baked goods and desserts; and unbelievable soups, sandwiches, salads and specials for lunch. More... |
| Talk to Strangers? Yes, it's easy at Conversation Cafés. You don't have to be 'in the know.' You don't have to read a book. You don't have to join an organization. You don't even have to think up a good opening line. Skilled hosts lead you through a simple process that helps you shift from small talk to BIG talk and discover the magic of great conversation. No committees will be formed. More... |
Tips for Talking to Strangers... You don't want to just dive into talking to strangers. You're out of practice. You need to build up those curiosity and bravery muscles. You need to thicken your skin in case they snub you. You need to plan a few exit strategies in case of social suffocation. Sure, when you were a kid you talked to strangers all the time. But you were trained out of it. So here's a five-step 'Talking to Strangers' training program. Tailor it to your needs. More... |