“I have been involved with Convergence for a decade, and the last two hours are among my favorites ever.”
That’s how one long-term Leadership Council member described the exceptional two panels that opened Convergence’s Fall Leadership Council Meeting on Oct. 7. Read on to learn more about these provocative conversations.
Amanda Ripley
CEO David Eisner interviewed New York Times best-selling author Amanda Ripley about her new book, “High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.” To purchase her book, click here. If you purchase through Amazon, consider using AmazonSmile and making Convergence your charity of choice for this and all of your Amazon purchases. Ripley explained the difference between “high conflict” and “good conflict” and how sometimes doing what is counter-intuitive is the best approach to produce constructive dialogue and bridge divides. She also provided tips to break free from the trap of “us versus them” to embrace the healthy conflict that is essential for our growth as individuals and as a society.
Guns & Suicide Prevention
Russell Krumnow, Director of the Convergence Dialogue on Guns and Suicide Prevention, led an in-depth discussion with Dialogue participants about the impact of bringing diverse voices together to prevent firearm suicides. Participant Sherry Molock, a pastor and researcher at George Washington University, specializes in suicide risk and prevention in African American adolescents and young adults. Dr. Molock also works to advance suicide prevention programs in African American faith-based communities and shared how the first-time experience impacted her:
“I’ve been doing research on suicide prevention for 25 years, but I’ve never sat down with gun advocates ever. I thought we lived on different planets…
It was very eye-opening for me to talk with people who are either gun advocates, gun owners, or people who are even involved in policy work because they had a different perspective and are crucial to crafting research efforts and solutions that can really work to save lives.”
The Dialogue recommendations are scheduled to be released next month.
