Holding Transformative Conversations

It is time for a reset

Across the country, many community, faith, trade union and voluntary sector organisations are facing a multitude of problems borne out of the lies and misinformation being spread, particularly on social media, about Islam, asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and other groups. We know this is having a profound effect on how services and support is delivered and many organisations are wondering how to respond to these narratives in a way that is effective and can make a difference.

The Ella Baker School of Organising is working with community, faith, trade union and voluntary sector organisations, to deliver training on how to defeat ‘narratives of division’. Having delivered three days of training to 120 people across the city region last year, we are now delivering a series of one day training events in each of the City Region's Boroughs in partnership with the LCR Race Equality Hub.

Many people, feel frozen in the face of narratives in our communities that create division, as they are unsure what to do that would make a positive impact. 

This series of in-person training workshops, begins from the assumption that people who hold views that can fracture communities are not necessarily bad people, and so  we have a wider responsibility to: 

·       Engage with a wide range of people to explore their different range of views and

·       Work together to address the issues that are underpinning those views and sometimes leading to a breakdown of inclusive communities 

An exciting programme of training to facilitate conversations will be delivered by the Ella Baker School of Organising, in partnership with the LCR Race Equality Hub. The sessions will help to equip people with the tools to engage in what can often be challenging conversations that can help to to reduce tension, find solutions and build unity.

The training will help you to:

·       Recognise why our neighbours, community members and often friends can sometimes hold problematic views,

·       Find ways to engage meaningfully with people who have been influenced by divisive narratives,

·       Identify ways to refocus our community on finding solutions rather than blaming other

·       Engage with a wide range of people to explore the different range of views and opinions.

You can expect to develop the confidence, skills and tools to build genuine understanding and long-term connections in your own spaces and communities. Sessions will be supported by practical informative resources.