After a short summer break, Coffee Conversations will resume in September! 

Coffee Conversations (1) take place at First Parish of Sudbury on the last Thursday of each month (with the exception of November and December) from 10:00 to 11:30 am. Participation is FREE and open to the public (registration is not required). 

Each conversation has a theme with curated questions, and Athina facilitators manage the flow of activities. We meet in the First Parish Commons (2nd floor), and light refreshments are served. 

Themes through the end of 2024:

• September 26–The three branches of government: Is there balance in the current tripartite system?

• October 31–Civic responsibility: What are the responsibilities of individual citizens in a democracy?

• November 21–Building engagement at the local level: How do we encourage political engagement at the local level? CANCELED (We will reschedule this topic in early 2025.)

• December 19–The state of our union: How are we doing after 250 years?

To allow for a rich discussion that is inclusive and respectful, all participants must agree to the following Values and Guidelines:

Practice Active Listening

The road to dialogue(2) is more about listening than talking. This is an opportunity to build this critical skill in a conversational setting. It is also a way to learn more about the experiences and perspectives of others.

Suspend Judgment

Judgment is a considerable obstacle to dialogue building. We all hold assumptions and implicit bias, and this creates judgment. Setting aside your assumptions and judgment can open you up to new possibilities. Practice active listening by focusing on what others say without interruption or unsolicited advice. 

Speak from Your Experience

Please speak for yourself only, based on your own experience, not on others or a group. To learn more about the experiences of others, make space and allow others to share their experiences. 

THINK

Be thoughtful in what you wish to share by THINKing before speaking. Is what you want to say…

True?

Helpful?

Inspiring?

Necessary?

Kind?

Step Up, Step Back

We all benefit from hearing different perspectives. If you tend to dominate a discussion or notice that some people are not sharing, step back to make space for the quiet voices. Conversely, if you often hold back, be brave—step up and share your perspective. 

Be Responsible

We are all responsible for holding each other accountable. If you notice someone not adhering to the guidelines, gently speak up or motion for the facilitator. 

1. Coffee Conversations is inspired by the work of other organizations, most notably Living Room Conversations.

2. We define “dialogue” as “the two-way communication of two or more people willing to actively listen to one another in a respectful and equitable manner, in which participants consciously attempt to suspend assumptions and are open to the possibility of changing their own perspectives.” (Fontes, 2021) A conversation doesn’t always adhere to this definition but can, through hard work and practice, evolve into dialogue.