Dare to Dialogue: How can we relearn to talk to each other?
While in the 1960s people were much more likely to say that they wouldn’t want their children to marry someone outside their race, today polls show that people are uncomfortable with their children marrying someone of the opposite political party. Exchanges and political debates often end in insults and hateful comments, especially regarding hot topics such as racism or immigration. This polarization is taking its toll. How can we respond to this trend? Our panelists are all committed to building bridges, promoting dialogue skills in their professional and family environment.
PANELISTS
David Lapp
David Lapp is a co-founder of the Braver Angels, an organization that aims at building relationships among people of different parties and helping people develop skills to dialogue effectively. He lives with his wife Amber and five children in South Lebanon, Ohio, the home of the first-ever Braver Angels workshop in December 2016.
JD Lori Chesser is an immigration lawyer working at Davis Brown Law Firm in Des Moines. With a degree in finance, she initially practiced corporate law. Recognizing the need for immigration services in Iowa, she developed that practice and assists employers, business owners and individuals as they navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. Leaning towards the Democratic party, she is happily married since 1987 to a conservative.
JD John Chesser is alawyer, writer and consultant from Des Moines, Iowa. With his own consulting company, he offers organization development and communications consulting in the technology, law and financial sectors. He is married to Lori and leans towards the Republican party.
Angelica Kerr works in STM (Science, Technology & Medical) journal publishing at Elsevier for a portfolio of health science titles in the fields of cardiology and pathology. She earned a degree in Television Broadcasting from Brooklyn College and worked for various media production outlets. Conciliating and mediating greater communication between various peoples and entities is a particular stewardship of hers, which draws into facilitating deep, honest conversations about race.