Q: What happens when you have #100COFFEES with people who don't look or think like you do? A: You inspire a trend.
"There is incredible value in being known”
—Alex Workman, the brain behind hosting #100Coffees
This summer, we hope you'll join us for coffee.
The backstory: Last year Alex Workman made it his goal to talk with 100 new people. If you haven't met Alex, he's a talented photographer—and the list of community projects he and wife Chelsea have launched is long and fascinating, beginning with Aerial Tallahassee, continuing through COVID-wear and #100Coffees. (Meet The Workmans here.) Well, Alex quickly surpassed the goal he named the project after—he had a whopping 163 conversations! (You can see some of the faces of his coffee mates above.)
We were inspired by this project, one that gets right to the heart of The Village Square's mission to build civic trust between people who don't look or think alike. We got so excited imagining Alex's idea at scale. What could happen inside one hometown (buffeted by the same-old, same-old angry divisions that we have way too much of these days) if we just start having coffee with people we don't normally hang with? So we sweet-talked Alex and—tada—we're now officially multiplying #100Coffees x 25, and inviting you to join in.
We're starting our #100Coffees shindig with 25 coffee hosts (meet them here, page down). They've each committed to drinking coffee like the future of the Republic depends on it (it might). Your part? Click on the "SIGN-UP" link at the top of our #100Coffees page, tell us something about yourself, and then we'll send you a couple of links to the coffee calendars of people who we think might be cool for you to meet. You take it from there.
Want to know more about the OG coffee host, Alex? Our own Vanessa Rowse interviewed Alex on Village SquareCast here.
Learn more + sign-up for #100Coffees.
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We're hiring a Project Manager. Help us spread the word.
Are you an organized, dependable professional with a collaborative mindset interested in our mission to bridge the partisan divide throughout the Tallahassee area and beyond? The ideal candidate believes that diversity of viewpoints makes for a richer dialogue and healthier society, works well both independently and as part of a small but mighty team, believes no task is too small to be important, has laser attention to detail, and communicates clearly and consistently both with teammates and our constituents. The position comes with unique informal perks such as flexible work hours, the option to work from home, lots of opportunities to connect with community members and leaders, and a light holiday and summer event schedule.
For more information and to apply, click here.
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American Academy of Arts and Sciences Reimagining Our Economy Project: Listening Session Opportunity
In October, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an independent research center and honorary membership society, launched the Commission on Reimagining Our Economy (CORE) to better understand the economic experiences of people living in the United States and rethink the values and principles that underlie the American economy. The Commission wants to move beyond conversations about how the economy is doing to hear how Americans are doing in their own words.
To gather these stories, they're hosting listening sessions with people who have experiences of financial hardship. They're seeking interested participants and organizations in the Southeast who can help them organize conversations. Each session will be 75 to 90 minutes and can be held in person or via Zoom. An ideal session size is 4-6 people plus a trained facilitator. The session will be an open-ended opportunity for participants to share their experiences and will inform the Commission’s recommendations.
Sessions will be audio recorded and may be archived in the Library of Congress. Audio recordings and transcripts will be available for all participants to access through the Local Voices Network. In recognition that not all participants can volunteer their time, gift cards are available upon request. |
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Consider donating to support our mission to build community, foster dialogue, encourage disagreement, and increase empathy.
We know you receive lots of asks from nonprofits for your hard-earned money. We want to share why your contributions make such a difference not only for our own nonprofit but in the community around us.
Since way back 16 years ago when The Village Square saw the need for a place for citizens to gather across differences of opinion, things have only become more "explosive" in our state and national politics. But what Liz theorized back at the beginning of this nonprofit experiment still holds true: When people get together on an individual level and get to know each other, the harsh rhetoric decreases, trust increases, and the divide becomes smaller.
Here's another throwback: Just this past July 4th weekend, Public Square Magazine featured The Village Square's original "Founding Tale." We hope you'll take a moment to re-read what we imagined all those years ago, and consider helping to keep The Village Square alive and well for at least another couple decades to come.
Become a member and make a positive tangible mark on your community as we convince others that empathy and understanding is crucial in difficult disagreements. Help us as we push for civil discourse and strong civic connections.
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Hot off the (digital) press!
We wanted to share with you this news hot off the press from The Braver Angels newsletter. You can snag a free digital copy of Amanda Ripley's book "High Conflict." If you aren't a subscriber to the Braver Angels newsletter, we highly recommend you become one. We featured Amanda as our season opening digital event last fall (you can hear our conversation on Village SquareCast here)—we think her work is a game changer!
Free books to help us all heal...
Until July 31, Simon & Schuster is giving away digital editions of two books that are intended to help generate conversations in what the book publisher’s CEO calls "a country divided." The books are High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out by Amanda Ripley and Let’s Talk About Hard Things: The Life-Changing Conversations That Connect Us by Anna Sale.
Each book is available free for download at retailers including Amazon, B&N, Apple, Google Play, and Libro.fm. (A disclaimer on the publisher's website says "end date may vary by retailer.")
LEARN MORE HERE.
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