The Mount Horeb Public Library will hold a free workshop on May 2 for those interested in learning how to lead productive community conversations, according to an announcement released April 21. The event, titled “Disagree BETTER: Discussion Moderator Training,” is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch provided.
The training aims to help participants develop skills for moderating civil dialogue and addressing difficult issues within local communities. Registration is required for the event, which is open to the public at no cost.
The workshop will introduce attendees to deliberative dialogue, a nationally recognized decision-making process that involves analyzing multiple approaches to an issue, understanding differing perspectives, and seeking common ground. Participants will have the opportunity to experience a deliberative dialogue firsthand and learn about its structure and appropriate use. The program also includes instruction in facilitation techniques and notetaking skills, as well as opportunities for participants to practice moderating in a supportive environment.
Eric Giordano, founding executive director of the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS), will lead the training session. Giordano specializes in deliberative dialogue and inquiry, group facilitation, conflict management, survey research, and focus group analysis. He holds a tenured appointment as an associate professor at UW-Stevens Point and earned his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
More information about registration can be found on the Mount Horeb Public Library website.
