The document outlines a structured session aimed at promoting understanding and mindfulness across political divides. It includes various discussion prompts and activities focused on personal experiences and feelings about political issues, encouraging participants to listen actively and engage empathetically. The session concludes with a reflection on ways to create positive change in one's community amidst polarization.

1. Feeling the Polarization
June 25

2. GOALS
 Practice authentic understanding
 Mindfulness listening

3.  Meditation (5 minutes)
 Pair-up with someone (questions and
swap)
 Debrief (5-10 minutes)
Run Down

4. Ground Rules
• One person talks at one time *
for speaker:
 Keep a calm voice
for listener:
 LISTEN and smile (even if you disagree with the other
person)
 Have an open heart and open mind

5. What interested you or drew you to
this session today?
1  2

6. What interested you or drew you to
this session today?
2  1

7. Where were you during 2016
election day? What were your
emotions during the last hours?
1  2

8. What were your emotions for the next few days
following the election?
What event triggered the most intense
emotional reaction?
2  1

9. Rotate
reminder: only one person speaks
at a time

10. Give an example of when you talked
to someone who disagreed with you
on a political issue? How did it go?
How did it feel?
1  2

11. Give an example of when you talked to
someone who agreed with you on a
political issue? How did it go?
How did it feel?
2  1

12. Pick one of the following topics you feel most strongly
about:
Why did you pick that topic? What is the one thing that
you feel most strongly about that topic?
1  2
- Racial
- Immigration
- Gun control
- Environment
- Women rights
- International Policy
- Education
- Energy
- Healthcare
- None of the above

13. Listener of the previous question:
your turn to ask a question
what was something curious that you wanted to
ask more about?
E.g. “when you said [this], is there an example?”
“what do you mean by [that]?”
1  2

14. Pick one of the following topics you feel most strongly
about:
Why did you pick that topic? What is the one thing that
you feel most strongly about that topic?
2  1
- Racial
- Immigration
- Gun control
- Environment
- Women rights
- International Policy
- Education
- Energy
- Healthcare
- None of the above

15. Listener of the previous question:
your turn to ask a question
what was something curious that you wanted to
ask more about?
E.g. “when you said [this], is there an example?”
“what do you mean by [that]?”
2  1

16. Rotate
reminder: only one person speaks
at a time

17. Give an example of when a political
issue came up among your friends and
family. How did you react? How did
you feel?
1  2

18. What is your source(s) of news now?
How did you choose those sources?
2  1

19. Last Conversation!

20. making change can be overwhelming, but
if we think more locally…
What could you do within your community
and your life to make a small change in
this polarized world?

21. Group Debrief