Showing 105 results for tag Conversation

From the Director: The Undertow

Adam Davis writes about what it takes to overcome the forces that pull us under.

Magazine | December 5, 2024

This Is the Moment

Andrew DeVigal on how civic dialogue helps build healthier communities.

Beyond the Margins | November 26, 2024

Reflective Conversation Training (virtual)

During our virtual facilitation training, participants will:

  • learn about facilitation and reflective conversation
  • have an opportunity to practice new skills and techniques
  • reflect on and share your own beliefs and assumptions and listen to beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences different than your own
  • design and participate in reflective conversations and debriefs that analyze facilitation tools and choices.

This virtual training will take place online via Zoom over the following sessions:

  • Day 1: Thursday, January 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Day 2: Friday, January 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Day 3: Friday, January 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To register for this virtual training, click here.

Event | January 9, 2025

Programas al aire libre

Oregon Humanities presenta excursiones al aire libre que incluyen oportunidades para conversar y aprender.

Programación en Español | July 15, 2024

Interpretando Nuestro Territorio

A hike and conversation in Spanish presented in partnership with Deschutes Land Trust and Vámonos Outside

Te invitamos a una caminata con tiempos destinados a conversar al aire libre, donde exploraremos nuestra conexión con el territorio y aprenderemos nuevas formas de explorarlo. Descubre los esfuerzos de conservación en Oregon Central del Deschutes Land Trust y conéctate con otros participantes a través de nuestra cultura y experiencias compartidas.

Regístrate aquí

Event | July 21, 2024

Facilitation Training for Libraries

Oregon Humanities will present three trainings in 2024 for staff, board members, volunteers, and program partners of Oregon libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and tribal). These trainings will help people involved with libraries strengthen their skills in leading conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as a jumping off point, participants will learn about facilitation and reflective conversation, practice new skills and techniques, and learn to design and facilitate conversations that allow people and groups to learn more about themselves and each other.

This training will take place at the Grants Pass Library over the following days:

  • Day 1: Thursday, September 5, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Day 2: Friday, September 6, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Click here to register for this training.

Event | September 5, 2024

Conversation Project: Can We Get Along?

Rodney King’s iconic question still resonates today. Despite decades of social justice movements, police brutality and divisions persist in the United States. COVID-19 has only added more challenges. How can we connect to each other during these times? What holds us back from connecting with each other? How do our personal experiences contribute to barriers, or and have the potential to break them down? Join facilitator Chisao Hata as she holds space to examine individual questions on race, cultural values, and what brings us together and what separates us.

RSVP for this conversation.

Event | April 9, 2024

Conversation Project: Loneliness and Aging

Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.

Event | April 8, 2024

Conversation Project: Loneliness and Aging

Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.

Event | March 20, 2024

Reflective Conversation Training (in-person)

This training will take place in the Oregon Humanities office in Portland over the following days:

  • Day 1: Thursday, August 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Day 2: Friday, August 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To register for the August in-person training, click here.

Event | August 15, 2024

Tips for Facilitating Reflective Conversations

Four facilitators share tips on leading reflective conversations.

Article | December 5, 2023

Tertulias de Película: Lorena, la de pies ligeros / Lorena, Light-Footed Woman

Qué mejor plan para un viernes que ver una película en compañía y quedarse a charlar?  

Aprende sobre Lorena, una atleta mexicana que ha hecho historia por derribar estereotipos llevando orgullosa su cultura al resto del  mundo, y quédate a comer y charlar al final de la peli.

Event | November 17, 2023

Loneliness and Aging: Making Space for Our Elders

Loneliness and isolation are common experiences for elderly people, especially for those who do not have nearby family members or who are not computer literate. What do you know about the elders in your life or in your neighborhood? Are they connected to their families in an enriching way? Do they belong to a caring community of some kind? This conversation is for elderly people and people who live near elders or have elderly people in their lives to explore questions, experiences, and obstacles to showing up for elderly people and to generate ideas for connection.

RSVP for this free event.

Event | October 19, 2023

In-person Facilitation Training

Oregon Humanities' facilitation training prepares people to plan and facilitate conversations about vital issues and questions across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. These conversations help build strong relationships within organizations and among communities. Read more about these trainings.

In-Person trainings are limited to the first sixteen people to sign up. Be ready to show proof of vaccination. Masks are not required, though we imagine that some people might opt to wear them. We will continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Oregon Health Authority about in-person gatherings, and we’ll be ready to make changes and adapt. We will spend our time together talking in large and small groups, in small to mid-sized rooms at the office of Oregon Humanities in Portland. We will provide a light breakfast and lunch on both days. The training will take place over two days on Thursday, September 28, and Friday, September 29.

Register for this training.

Event | September 28, 2023

Custom Trainings and Conversations

Oregon Humanities can lead onsite trainings and conversations to help meet the needs and goals of your organization or community.

Workshops & Training | August 11, 2023

Conversation Project: Understanding Urban/Rural Divides

We live in a time of increasing polarization that often correlates to divides between urban and rural regions in our state. This polarization is so extreme that it often seems like the two sides may have completely different experiences of the world. Join facilitator Nick Nash in a conversation that asks, How does the urban/rural divide affect the ways we relate to each other as Oregonians? What is the urban/rural divide, and how do we understand it? How does this divide affect our day-to-day lives, our experiences of being governed, and of the COVID-19 pandemic? This conversation is a chance to reflect on the beliefs we have about our urban or rural neighbors with a focus on discovering and abandoning misbeliefs, investigating and learning about the real differences between the urban and the rural, and trying to find things that we all share as Oregonians.

Event | August 9, 2023

Conversation Project: Talking about Dying

Death is a universal event that transcends many of the differences between us. While we focus most on the quality of our lives and well-being, we rarely talk about the quality of our dying and deaths. Now in its sixth year, Oregon Humanities’ Talking about Dying program offers an opportunity to reflect on the stories and cultural influences that shape our thinking about this theme and to share perspectives and ideas with fellow community members. During the program, participants explore such questions as, How might our family, traditions, rituals, religion, and beliefs shape how we think about death? What would a “good death” look like for us? What do we want—and not want—at the end of our life? What are the essential considerations?

RSVP for this free event.

Event | May 6, 2023

In Praise of No Other Options

Jessica E. Johnson writes about the benefit of having a captive audience.

Beyond the Margins | March 17, 2023

Consider This Reading Group: How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations

Which do you value more: the truth or your own beliefs? Oregon Humanities invites you to a discussion of Mónica Guzmán's essay "How to Stay Open and Curious in Hard Conversations" (originally published in Greater Good Magazine). Together we'll explore Guzmán strategies for fostering curiosity and understanding across divides, including sharing "snapshot" opinions, acknowledging agreement, and admitting uncertainty. We will also discuss takeaways from our April 18 Consider This conversation with Guzmán at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland. Rozzell Medina will facilitate the reading group discussion.

Event | April 26, 2023

Tell Me About That

A physician reflects on pain, attention, and the ethics of caregiving.

Magazine | April 26, 2022

Consider This with Mónica Guzmán - La Grande Screening

Join Oregon Humanities staff in La Grande for a live screening of our Consider This conversation with Mónica Guzmán, author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who works to get people to talk across thier perceived divides. 

Event | April 18, 2023

Discussion Questions & Further Reading: Beyond

Prompts for conversation about this issue and links to learn more about the stories and ideas explored herein.

Magazine | December 15, 2021

Conspiracy Theories

Why do we gravitate toward conspiracy theories to make sense of the world? What human need do these stories fill? In this program, we’ll explore some conspiracy theories old and new, famous and obscure. What common themes do they share? How do they operate as stories and how do they evolve? What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and myth, folklore, and “fake news”? We’ll talk about the mechanics of conspiracy theories as we explore how to determine what’s true, what’s false, and whom to trust.

Event | August 24, 2021

Democracy in America: Who? - FULL

This five-part discussion series facilitated by David Gutterman invites participants to gather together for conversations about the essential elements of what it means to be a democratic citizen in the United States today.

Event | May 10, 2021

Democracy in America: What? - FULL

This five-part discussion series facilitated by David Gutterman invites participants to gather together for conversations about the essential elements of what it means to be a democratic citizen in the United States today.

Event | May 17, 2021

Democracy in America: Where? - FULL

This five-part discussion series facilitated by David Gutterman invites participants to gather together for conversations about the essential elements of what it means to be a democratic citizen in the United States today.

Event | May 24, 2021

Democracy in America: When? - FULL

This five-part discussion series facilitated by David Gutterman invites participants to gather together for conversations about the essential elements of what it means to be a democratic citizen in the United States today.

Event | May 31, 2021

Democracy in America: How? - FULL

This five-part discussion series facilitated by David Gutterman invites participants to gather together for conversations about the essential elements of what it means to be a democratic citizen in the United States today.

Event | June 7, 2021

From the Director: The Great Divide

Adam Davis on communicating and connecting across divides.

Magazine | April 27, 2021

Connect in Place: What are we learning from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how will we remember it?

How can we put our energy, intention, and creativity into nurturing deep individual and collective learning that will outlive the pandemic? How do we shape a better “new normal,” wherein even the concept of normal itself is liberated from various constraints? We can start by talking about it.

Event | March 9, 2021

The Conversation Project

The Conversation Project is an opportunity for organizations to partner with Oregon Humanities and host a conversation for your community.

Community Conversations | January 24, 2021

Community Conversations

Oregon Humanities' community conversation programs provide opportunities for participants to reflect on their own experiences and beliefs, learn about the experiences and beliefs of others, and cultivate a stronger sense of agency in their communities.

Community Conversations | January 24, 2021

Consider This Archive

Did you miss one of our Consider This conversations? You can find audio and video from past events here.

Consider This | August 24, 2020

Growing Old in a Time of Uncertainty

No matter our age, we all hear and tell stories about growing older that reflect our own ideals and fears and the ideals and fears of our communities. As we live in this time of uncertainty, what stories of aging are we revising? Are there new roles we are creating? How does the power of these stories affect us and communities during this time?

Event | June 30, 2020

Housing and Belonging with Paul Susi

This Connect in Place conversation will explore common assumptions and perspectives about the experience of houselessness/homelessness and seek to answer the question, How do we decide who “belongs” in our community?

Event | June 16, 2020

Connect in Place: This Place Now

These are uncertain and undetermined times which call for, as Rebecca Solnit has written, “an imagination adequate to the possibilities and the strangeness and dangers on this earth in this moment.” How has where you are affected your experience of the pandemic? How have you seen yourself and your community adapt? What can you imagine recovery might look like? This virtual community conversation will connect Oregonians to reflect on our resilience, to compare notes about our experiences during this pandemic, to share and learn about the places we live, and to imagine what healing is needed for the places we share. This week’s conversations are for people living in the Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, and the Willamette Valley.

Event | June 9, 2020

Connect in Place: This Place Now

These are uncertain and undetermined times which call for, as Rebecca Solnit has written, “an imagination adequate to the possibilities and the strangeness and dangers on this earth in this moment.” How has where you are affected your experience of the pandemic? How have you seen yourself and your community adapt? What can you imagine recovery might look like? This virtual community conversation will connect Oregonians to reflect on our resilience, to compare notes about our experiences during this pandemic, to share and learn about the places we live, and to imagine what healing is needed for the places we share. This week’s conversations are for people living in the Columbia River Gorge, in Eastern Oregon, and on the Oregon Coast.

Event | June 23, 2020

Connect in Place

Each Tuesday evening, we’re hosting virtual conversations with communities around the state. Our aim is to create spaces, in this physically separated moment, for Oregonians to gather, connect, reflect, and talk with one another. This week's conversation themes will be announced soon.

Event | May 5, 2020

Connect in Place: This Place Now

Each Tuesday evening, we’re hosting virtual conversations with communities around the state. Our aim is to create spaces, in this physically separated moment, for Oregonians to gather, connect, reflect, and talk with one another. This week's online conversation will explore what COVID-19 means for us and our local communities with people living on the Oregon Coast, in Eastern Oregon, and around the Columbia River Gorge. This online conversation will explore what COVID-19 means for us and our local communities with people living on the Oregon Coast, in Eastern Oregon, and around the Columbia River Gorge.

Event | April 14, 2020

Connect in Place: This Place Now

Each Tuesday evening, we’re hosting virtual conversations with communities around the state. Our aim is to create spaces, in this physically separated moment, for Oregonians to gather, connect, reflect, and talk with one another. This conversation will explore what COVID-19 means for us and our local communities with people living on the Oregon Coast, in Eastern Oregon, and around the Columbia River Gorge.

Event | April 28, 2020

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | February 6, 2020

Civic Life-Sponsored Facilitation Training

This free two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | January 9, 2020

CANCELED Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community. The training on April 30 and May 1 is canceled. We are offering the remaining spots in the June training to those participants first.

Event | April 30, 2020

Challenging Questions for Oregonians

At the 2019 Portland Book Festival, we asked attendees to share some challenging questions for fellow Oregonians.

Beyond the Margins | November 22, 2019

OH Grant Event: Stories My Mother and Father Told Me: Diana Lo Mei Hing

Diana Lo Mei Hing shares stories about growing up in China on the eve of the Cultural Revolution and in Italy. She was born in Hong Kong and spent her childhood in Canton City, China in the years leading up to the Cultural Revolution. When she was eleven, the family fled to Milan, Italy where she received a fine arts education. She is a well known artist in Italy where she continues to exhibit. Since 2015, she and her American husband, a fine art photographer, have made their home in Portland. This event is part of the Portland Chinatown History Museum's ongoing series, Stories My Mother and Father Told Me, a series exploring the experiences of immigrants in Oregon featuring artists, writers, and community elders.

Event | November 14, 2019

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | November 14, 2019

OH Grant Event: Oregon Experience: “The Modoc War”

Oregon Experience: The Modoc War examines one of the most dramatic American Indian wars in US history—and one that happened in and near Klamath. The Modoc War of 1872 to 1873 was one of the costliest American Indian wars in US history, considering the number of people involved. For nearly seven months, a handful of Modoc Indian warriors and their families held off hundreds of US Army soldiers. The documentary revisits the battle scenes, and uses rare historical images and original wood cut drawings from the period. Interviews with Modoc descendants, national historians and written first-hand accounts, bring the Modoc War to life. There will be a Q & A after the showing, as well as a reception with the Klamath County Museum.

Event | October 13, 2019

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | August 8, 2019

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | September 18, 2019

From the Director: Paying Attention

Adam Davis on the odd activity that is listening.

Magazine | April 29, 2019

Listening over Litigation

The High Desert Partnership provides a collaborative vision for Harney County.

Magazine | December 13, 2018

Engagement and Environment

OPAL seeks to bring more voices into conversations about environmental justice.

Magazine | December 13, 2018

Supporting Urgent Conversations

Responsive Program Grants help communities across Oregon respond to pressing issues and events.

Magazine | December 13, 2018

Past Gatherings

Bridging Oregon | November 30, 2018

What Can Bridge the Divide?

Yoko Ikeda shares her experience with Bridging Oregon, a monthly conversation series that explores the idea that we're divided as a state and asks how we can come together to create stronger, more resilient communities.

Bridging Oregon | November 30, 2018

Talking about Sex

A conversation with Conversation Project facilitator Emily Squires on how we talk about sex in our school system.

Beyond the Margins | November 19, 2018

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | March 14, 2019

Facilitation Training

This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | January 10, 2019

Think & Drink with Eli Saslow

Join journalist Eli Saslow, author of Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist for a conversation about how white supremacist movements are born and how they gain power.

Event | October 24, 2018

Engaging as Fellow Humans

Tyler White creates conversations for social change.

Magazine | August 30, 2018

From the Director: Word Problems

Executive Director Adam Davis on the provocations of language and the search for the right words in a flawed world

Magazine | August 30, 2018

Spreading the Conversation

Facilitators trained in Oregon are starting conversations around the country.

Magazine | April 27, 2018

Exchange and Change

Adam Davis, executive director of Oregon Humanities, on people listening to one another in Lake County, Oregon

Magazine | April 27, 2018

Bridging Oregon Participant Application Deadline (EXTENDED)

Oregon Humanities is looking for people in Central Oregon to participate in this monthly conversation series.

Event | March 5, 2018

Facilitation Training

This training will strengthen your skills to plan and facilitate conversations about the big questions that drive your work in the world both at work and within the broader community.

Event | May 11, 2018

Bridging Our Divide Community Dialogue

Bridging Our Divide community events are focused on fostering conversation and understanding across political and ideological divides. This event will feature speakers from the local community and group activities to promote dialogue and empathy. This event is made possible in part by a Public Program Grant from Oregon Humanities.

Event | January 27, 2018

From the Director: Guns, Tools, and Talk

Adam Davis on the difficulty of talking about guns

Magazine | December 15, 2017

Field Work: Bridging Divides over Dinner

In Bend, residents come together to share meals and conversation.

Magazine | December 15, 2017

Facilitation Training

Oregon Humanities trains facilitators to lead conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | October 4, 2018

Facilitation Training

Oregon Humanities trains facilitators to lead conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | April 19, 2018

Race and Domestic Violence

Join Adelante Mujeres, Bradley Angle, YWCA of Greater Portland, and Micronesian Islander Community for an evening of poetry, education, and discussion to foster a greater understanding of the significance of race and ethnicity in relationship to domestic violence.

Event | October 26, 2017

Facilitation Training

Oregon Humanities trains facilitators to lead conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. This two-day training will help you strengthen your skills in planning and facilitating conversations on issues you care about within your organization or in the broader community.

Event | January 25, 2018

CANCELED: History in the News

Discuss current events in historical context at a monthly roundtable with Mid-Valley historians, political scientists, and other experts. The topic of each discussion will be pulled straight from the headlines ten days in advance.

Event | October 19, 2017

History in the News: Oregon's Own History of Sexual Harassment, Abuse, and Assault

Discuss current events in historical context at a monthly roundtable with Mid-Valley historians, political scientists, and other experts. The topic of each discussion will be pulled straight from the headlines ten days in advance.

Event | November 16, 2017

Talking about Dying

This conversation provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on what stories and influences shape their thinking about death and dying and to hear perspectives and ideas from fellow community members.

Event | September 9, 2017

Talking about Dying

This conversation provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on what stories and influences shape their thinking about death and dying and to hear perspectives and ideas from fellow community members.

Event | August 24, 2017

Who is Not at the Table?

Filmmaker Ifanyi Bell reflects on the making of “Future: Portland 2”

This Land | May 18, 2017

History in the News: Citizenship and Civil Liberties on the World War I Home Front

Discuss current events in historical context at a monthly roundtable. This is an Oregon Humanities grant-funded event.

Event | May 18, 2017

Confluence Story Gathering

Oregon Humanities is a cosponsor of this event.

Event | May 6, 2017

Vanport Mosaic Festival

Theater, documentaries, historic exhibits, lectures, and tours will explore will explore the history and legacy of Vanport. Oregon Humanities is a cosponsor of this event.

Event | May 26, 2017

"Priced Out" Screening and Dialogue

Watch an excerpt from the film and then join the discussion about how rising housing prices are displacing Portland's black community. Oregon Humanities is a cosponsor of this event.

Event | May 28, 2017

Arts & Cultural Equity: Current Examples and Relevant Strategies

Arts and cultural workers, managers, educators, and students share current insights, experiences, and practices around equity and leadership within arts and culture organizations. Oregon Humanities is a cosponsor of this event.

Event | May 12, 2017

"Spiritrials" Post-Show Discussion on Faith and Religion

A conversation reflecting on the show with Conversation Project leader Elizabeth Harlan-Ferlo of Interfaith Muse. This is an Oregon Humanities grant-funded event.

Event | April 27, 2017

Confluence Story Gathering

Oregon Humanities is a cosponsor of this event.

Event | April 15, 2017

When to Carry

Editor's note

Magazine | April 10, 2017

What We Share

From the Director

Magazine | April 5, 2017

Gaining Ground Film Screening and Discussion

This is an Oregon Humanities grant-funded event.

Event | March 21, 2017

Think & Drink on the Future of Urban Development in Portland

A conversation about the future of housing and urban development in Portland with civic leaders and developers poised to make it happen.

Event | March 15, 2017

POSTPONED Conversation with Funders

Event | February 28, 2017

Conversation with Funders

Event | February 23, 2017

Conversation with Funders

Event | February 22, 2017

Race Tool Kit Workshop

Event | February 19, 2017

Confluence Story Gathering

Event | February 18, 2017

Conversation with Funders

Event | February 16, 2017

Conversation with Funders

Event | February 14, 2017

Conversation with Funders

Event | February 9, 2017

Taking the Lead

We partnered with Catlin-Gabel’s PLACE program to train high school students to lead community conversations. Filmmaker Sika Stanton asks these emerging leaders from North Portland about how they hope to use their new skills.

Beyond the Margins | November 2, 2016

Objects in Motion

Editor Kathleen Holt on inertia

Magazine | December 18, 2015

The Rim of the Wound

Writer Wendy Willis's open letter to the students of Columbia University Multicultural Affairs Advisory Board, with a special note to her daughters.

Magazine | August 11, 2015

Searching for Fire in the Belly

Talking about Dying | April 10, 2015

Who's Minding Your Business?

A conversation with writer William T. Vollmann on privacy, surveillance, and hope

Magazine | March 25, 2014

Firing a Friend

It's hard to be a good citizen during an election year. An essay by Jennifer Ruth

Magazine | December 10, 2011