Thank you to columnist Jay Fleitman for his report on the area’s first “red/blue” Better Angels workshop (“Helping bring ‘reds’ and ‘blues’ together,” March 13).
I am a member of a local group called Community Conversations of Western Massachusetts that envisions our communities living and working together with respect and understanding across a range of political differences. Our mission is to support structured, facilitated conversations that jump-start the process of listening to each other and help extend understanding across the political divide.
We are focused on helping to organize “red/blue” Better Angels workshops in the Pioneer Valley and then hope to offer follow-up workshops that will allow participants to go deeper in seeking understanding of each other’s views and values.
I felt disheartened when I read about Dr. Fleitman’s experience of talking to conservatives who are reluctant to express their viewpoints publicly because of the risk of being attacked, and I recognize that this happens. These are not the conditions that will support the depolarization I believe our country needs to sustain our democratic institutions, nor does it address the yearning we all have to be truly heard and understood.
In hopes of starting this process locally by listening to my own neighbors, I have volunteered to be a “blue” co-organizer for a Better Angels workshop in the town of Hadley and am looking for a “red” co-organizer who can help recruit “red” participants. If you are interested and live in Hadley, please email me at jennifer.communityconversations@gmail.com.
Jennifer Hall-Witt
Hadley