Welcome

In a true dialogue, both sides are willing to
change. We have to appreciate that truth can be received from outside of – not only within – our own group… We have to believe that by engaging in dialogue with another person, we have the possibility of making a change within ourselves, that we can become
deeper. Thich Nhat Hanh

Welcome to our conversation blog!

Our goal is to promote a space where dialogue and public conversation encourage learning, social activism and community. We envision a space where conversations can:
· Initiate both critical questions and critical listening
· Support a counter-hegemonic culture and provide an opportunity for learning, action, change and praxis both individually and communally.
· Inspire the age old practice of rational (and maybe sometimes not so rational) debate
· Reduce the influence of modern technology and media so that we do not blindly consume what is offered by the mainstream but rather use critical thought and individual choice to direct our lives.

In the spirit of learning, we will post a weekly blurb about various dialogue and conversational practices and their impact on social change and activism in their communities. We encourage you to share your ideas on these posts. It is with the exchange of thoughts and opinions that exciting learning can take place.

Deborah and I were both inspired to pursue the possibilities of public conversation by the conversational program at Concordia University, University of the Streets Café. The University of the Street Café holds regular conversations in cafés in Montreal exploring topics that range from sexuality to the environment to immigration and arts and culture to name but a few. Deborah and I seek to launch a similar monthly conversational café program in October in conjunction with the Toronto Community Development Institute. We hope that you will join us live to converse and explore some critical questions. Details will follow in September!

We invite you to share your public conversations with us. If you are hosting a conversation or know of one that is taking place, please let us know. We will happily post the details of other public conversations that are happening in the city.

We will also host online conversations using the chat feature available on blogspot. Please check in with us again so you can learn how to do this and find out when those online conversations will begin.