PCP Develops Guides to Conversation about Sept. 11

"What are the right questions for these harrowing times?"  asks Laura Chasin, director of the Public Conversations Project (PCP), in her essay, "Searching for Wise Questions."   Laura's essay, which we posted on our website and distributed to thousands of our friends and colleagues within days after Sept. 11, was PCP's first response to that cataclysmic event. 

In the months since, PCP has developed two substantial, step-by-step guides to dialogue about Sept. 11. One guide aims to help families have meaningful discussions; another addresses groups within neighborhoods, churches and other communities who wish to have enriching conversations about our post-Sept. 11 world.

Anyone can instantly obtain both guides for free by printing them out from our website (www.publicconversations.org).   Before the holidays, PCP informed many people of the availability of the guides by emailing an announcement.  We also reached the general public by generating articles in such major daily US newspapers as the LA Times, the (Phoenix) Arizona Republic, the Newark Star-Ledger, and the Dallas Morning Star. 

Another key aspect of PCP's response to Sept. 11 has been to convene many of the talented facilitators, mediators, therapists and others who have taken our Power of Dialogue training over the past few years.  In the past three months, we have facilitated a number of dialogues about Sept. 11 among these alums.  Our goal has been two-fold:  to connect to each other through dialogue; and to support those who want to initiate conversations in their various communities.

In all of our post-Sept. 11 activities, our intent has been to make it easier for people to listen and to speak with care and compassion, even when what is said is different, surprising or upsetting. Through  constructive conversation during this time of change, families and groups of every description can re-connect with warmth, respect, love and hope