Crucial Conversations in Polarizing Times
Speaking with Courage. Listening with Integrity. Staying in Relationship.
Saturday, March 14
5:30 – 8:30pm at DUUC (Dinner will be provided)
Facilitated by Reid A. Swanson
In today’s political climate, conversations can feel explosive. Topics of elections, social justice, public policy, race, gender, immigration, climate show up in our homes, workplaces, congregations, and communities. Emotions run high. Assumptions harden. Relationships strain. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to engage the world, not retreat from it. But engagement requires skill.
Join us for a three-hour interactive workshop based on Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny. Together we will explore practical tools for navigating high-stakes, emotionally charged conversations without sacrificing our values or our relationships.
You will learn how to:
- Stay grounded when discussions become heated
- Speak honestly without escalating conflict
- Recognize when safety has broken down and restore it
- Listen across deep political differences
- Respond rather than react
- Build trust even when agreement isn’t possible
This workshop is not about changing anyone’s political beliefs. It is about strengthening our ability to stay in conversation with integrity, courage, and compassion.
In a divided world, these are spiritual skills.
Childcare is available if registered by March 10th.
Reid A. Swanson is a longtime Unitarian Universalist leader and a retired Organizational Development professional, originally trained as a music educator. He is a certified trainer and facilitator in Crucial Conversations, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, Interpersonal Skills, and Leadership Development. Reid is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, where he serves on the Board of Trustees and manages a weekly Drop-In Access Center for unhoused individuals.