What is for dinner? How are you doing? What is on your mind. If you are new to Street Prophets please introduce yourself below in a comment. This is an Open Thread / Coffee Hour and all topics of conversation are welcome.
For today's suggested topic lets consider Empathy Circles. (Please see my previous diaries in this series on my struggle with grassroots organizing at this link #1, #2, #3, #4, #5) And two additional diaries I did on Empathy Circles before I started this series: links #1 & #2)
Four weeks ago I started taking a 5 week training session to become a Empathy Circle Facilitator. This series is a personal account of my experience. Jump the fold fold for more commentary.
I plan to wrap up this series on September 12th, 2022 with part #6. Next Monday is Labor Day so I will just be doing a holiday Coffee Hour.
The symbol represents extinction. The circle signifies the planet, while the hourglass inside serves as a warning that time is rapidly running out for many species.
I’m exploring the idea of creating a local community group that supports community and the Democratic party. My venture into Empathy Circles was prompted by the need to create a safe space for group dialog. Similar to finding a public square, library, cafe or farmers market where ideas can be discussed. And new ideas be introduced. I’m hoping to use the Empathy Circle process as a foundation for my new organization.
In my study of the process and its users I came across a group that seems to be using the process. The group is called Extinction Rebellion. It is my understanding that this group is decentralized and encourages its local groups to use the Empathy Circle process. I plan to talk to some of the members of the movement about their use of the process in organizing.
Below is a video of a Empathy Cafe that features the topic of Extinction Rebellion. I hope to interview a few of the attendees.
Some text from the video about direct action. (XR is short hand for Extinction Rebellion.)
So we're trying to give a little overview about the recalling empathic direct action so this is it's a new sort of a concept so we're just sort of exploring and creating the the concept but it's about XR showing that XR listens and like it can facilitate constructive dialogue so this is about offering deep listening to the public and offering constructive dialogue to the public offering empathy circles to the public and to fellow activists doing street actions and demanding that those in power for example politicians CEOs etc take part in empathic dialogue around issues of climate change as well as bridging social divides and really it's about also kind of at the core it's about overcoming polarization and supporting a constructive dialogue between all people.
Because really to address climate change we're gonna have to bring people together and this is also a way of spreading a regenerative and empathic way of being and what we're gonna be discussing here is sort of what's the feasibility of this and we're just kind of doing an inquiry into this kind of idea what are the principles behind such an action what would an action like this look like and you know how do we how might we organize it implement it and who might take part.
Over the last month I have met about 30 new people while attending Empathy Circles. So far, I have had two half hour sessions in the formal training where I assumed the role of the Facilitator. Part of the training was dealing with disruptions to the process. For example one of the circle attendees disrupts the agreed upon communication process.
Another important part of training is keeping time. Each attendee gets to speak for 3 or 5 minutes while the active listener reflects.I have been supplementing my understanding of the process by attending the open cafes. And that is were I will be able to talk to some folks that are in Extinction Rebellion. There are about 40 events listed on the
Empathy Circle Schedule and I’m trying to survey all of them. Hopefully over the next two weeks I will be able to report back in the closing diary on how Extinction Rebellion and other groups are using Empathy Circles in the field.
Jonathan
