Petaluma Conversations
Statement of Purpose & Principles
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of Petaluma Conversations is to provide a place where people can come together and listen to each other, to get to know one another, and to understand each other, even if they don’t agree with each other; to build community across differences.
We do this to connect with and learn about others in our community who are different than we are; to be heard about whatever is important to each of us; and to contribute to building a resilient community that values understanding and finding ways to bridge social and political divides.
Conversation Principles
1. Everyone wants to be heard and understood
2. We are here to understand each other, not interrogate, argue, or convince each other.
3. Showing understanding, verbally or nonverbally, is not agreeing.
4. We are here for mutual understanding, not problem-solving
5. We trust that people will find their own solutions, or decide to change their minds, or not, as they see fit, and that mutual understanding makes a contribution to that process.
6. Conversation participants hold an intention to participate with:
Curiosity - about others and what is important to them
Openness - about oneself, and about different points of view
Honesty - saying what is important to you, even if it is different than others.
Mutuality - following the structure provided to ensure everyone gets an equal chance to be heard to their satisfaction.