Why Dialogue?
We have become used to debates that pit one against another: idea against idea, agenda against agenda, and person against person. But debates don’t build community. Those who lose do not go away, they simply stop taking part. Disconnection actually contributes to the tensions and divisions that are having devastating consequences in our world. People who are disconnected have important knowledge that can help us build safer and healthier communities. By talking to people from different backgrounds and vantage points, we become more informed. When we are more informed, we tend to make better choices. Those choices affect everybody.
What is dialogue?
Dialogue is a method of communication that involves two-way conversation where people not only speak to each other but also really listen. This kind of listening involves empathy. Each partner in a dialogue is curious about the experiences of the other partners – about their assumptions, beliefs and values. The goal is to leave the conversation with a better understanding. Unlike many other forms of public communication (e.g., debates or negotiations), dialogue is not meant to lead immediately to agreement or action. Instead, the hope is that participants will come away with a better understanding of the subject, of each other and of themselves. This new understanding means community members will be able to work together more effectively. Communities will be more flexible. Individuals and communities will have a greater sense of control over their own lives and well-being. Community dialogue can also take many forms. It is not limited to a public meeting or sitting around a table. It could involve walking tours facilitated by different members of the community. It could be art show or a series of “ask me anything” sessions. The sky’s the limit. The only critical requirement is that it helps us listen to, and understand, each other.
OVERDOSE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE
Why dialogue about opioid use?
Opioid overdose deaths in British Columbia have led to the declaration of a public health emergency. But different people hold different views about how to address the emergency in our communities. No one has all the answers. Even the best efforts of recognized experts have not solved the crisis or reduced the overdoses.Now is a good time to begin having honest and open community dialogues about drugs and drug policy. Dialogue to address the opioid crisis is far more than talking about drugs. Since addiction is not simply about drugs but results from a breakdown in the fabric or connectedness of human community, the dialogue needs to help us understand each other and build social relationships that support individual needs, preferences and autonomy. The breakdown of this integration of the community and all its members is at the root of addiction. Dialogue is an important tool in re-building this integration.
Questions to consider using as part of dialogue
What’s going on in our community around opioid use?
What are the main issues around opioid use that divide our community?
What are my beliefs about opioids? How did I arrive at those beliefs?
How is it that other people might have very different views? How can I better understand those views?What difference would it make to our community if we had a better understanding of one another?
We want to hear from you. Should you have any questions, suggestions, or wish to take part in and support our Opioid Dialogues, please contact us through the link at the bottom of this page.
NALOXONE (NARCAN) SAVES LIVES.
Dialogue on Opioids
Behaviors That Support Dialogue
Suspension of judgment while listening and speaking. When we listen and suspend judgment, we open the door to expanded understanding. When we speak without judgment, we open the door for others to listen to us.
Respect for differences. Our respect is grounded in the belief that everyone has an essential contribution to make and is to be honored for the perspective which only they can bring.
Role and status suspension. Again, in dialogue, all participants and their contributions are absolutely essential to developing an integrated whole view. No one perspective is more important than any other. Dialogue is about power with, versus power over or under.
Balancing inquiry and advocacy. In dialogue we inquire to discover and understand one another’s perspectives and ideas, and we advocate to offer our own for consideration. The intention is to bring forth and make visible assumptions and relationships, and to gain new insight and understanding. We often tend to advocate to convince others of our positions. Therefore, a good place to start with this guideline is to practice bringing more inquiry into the conversation.
Focus on learning. Our intention is to learn from each other, to expand our view and understanding, not to evaluate and determine who has the “best” view. When we are focused on learning, we tend to ask more questions, try new things. We are willing to disclose our thinking so that we can see both what is working for us and what we might want to change. We want to hear from all parties so that we can gain the advantage of differing perspectives.
Multicultural Communications Competencies (Dr. Mark A. Hicks; mhicks@meadville.edu)
Can listen and behave without imposing your own values and assumptions on others. Can engage in self-reflection. The ability to move beyond one’s own biases. Can communicate without being argumentative and competitive. Can reach shared outcomes without manipulating or wearing down others with compelling evidence. Can be curious about the other person. Seeks solutions that work across shared intrests.
