Bold Conversation: Where Do We Draw The Line? Navigating the Boundaries of Inclusion (Morning)

Description

Where do we draw the lines of inclusion? What are the boundaries?

With the rise of social movements like #MeToo, persistent tensions on issues like race relations and transgender rights, and the generally increasing political polarization we are experiencing across the globe, boundaries are bound to be tested, crossed, and redrawn. These boundaries were tested this past year, right here at The Forum, when we were faced with a difficult decision, and religious and inclusion values were at odds.

Where do we draw the line when it comes to safe spaces and dialogues that engage opposing viewpoints on value-laden complex and personal topics? Are the motivations for diversity and inclusion initiatives—both moral and business—clearly understood, or are the lines blurry?

This work often requires that we look past the status quo and be bold—in thought, in conversation, and in action. Like all aspects of diversity and inclusion work, exploring these boundaries begins with the self. It begins by asking what we bring to the table in our identity and in our experiences.

• What are the limits to our abilities to comprehend the diversity of opinion, experience, and culture in our world, and to what extent should those limitations inform the boundaries we place around how we engage in polarizing dialogue and interact with the world?
• How do we reach common ground when there seems to be none?
• What does inclusive dialogue look like when the topics are complex, challenge our beliefs, and disrupt our very core?

And so, with these questions in mind, we will look into the limits of D&I and simply get curious. Practitioners with faith-based, political advocacy and social activism backgrounds will engage in a dialogue that answers these and other tough questions which challenge how we view and act on inclusion. We’ll be taking a deep dive into “inclusion” using case situations to demonstrate how hard these conversations can be and provide strategies and resources for engaging in bold, inclusive conversations.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explore the difference between compromise and finding common ground in the context of values-laden conflict
2. Experience and engage in real-time dialogue on pertinent issues that impact our workplaces and world
3. Practice leveraging new tools and strategies for engaging in polarizing dialogue