Candidates running for California Assembly District 15 take part in a Radical Empathy Forum addressing the question of "How might we build a more empathic and caring culture?"
The forum used the Empathy Circle dialogue process as a way to move from combative debate to constructive dialogue.

Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018

Time: 3pm to 5:30 pm

Location: UC Berkeley - Genetics & Plant Biology, Room 100

Our communities and country are beset by dangerous and growing divisions of race, class, personalities, politics and loss of meaning and disconnection from our common humanity.

Candidates running for California Assembly District 15 will take part in a Radical Empathy Forum discussing: "How might we build a more empathic and caring culture?"

The forum will be held using the Empathy Circle dialogue process as a way to move from combative debate to constructive dialogue.

Acclaimed monologist, Josh Kornbluth, will open the event by introducing his timely video “The Empathy Circuit”.

Location: UC Berkeley - Genetics & Plant Biology, Room 100 (Near Oxford St and Hearst Ave)


HOSTED BY


CO-SPONSORS

1. Contra Costa OFA

2. UCB Decal: Effective Expression of Empathy

3. Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

4. East Bay Young Democrats

5. Berkeley Citizens Action Steering Committee

6. Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club

7. Talk-It-Out Radio on KPFA:

8. First They Came for the Homeless

9. BayNVC


All twelve candidates have been invited to participate in this forum:

    1. Ben Bartlett

    2. Owen Poindexter

    3. Buffy Wicks

    4. Pranav Jandhyala

    5. Andy Katz

    6. Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto

    7. Sergey Piterman

    8. Dan Kalb

    9. Judy Appel

    10. Raquella Thaman

    11. Cheryl Sudduth

    12. Jovanka Beckles


THE PROBLEM
Our communities and country are beset by dangerous and growing divisions of race, class, personalities, politics and loss of meaning. OUR CHALLENGE: How might we build a more empathic and caring culture?


INTRODUCTION

* Facebook Video * YouTube Video

* Welcome and thanks to Hosts, Candidates, Cosponsors,

* About Empathy Tent

* About Empathy in Politics

* Josh Kornbluth Talk and Shares Empathy Circuit Facebook Video


EMPATHY CIRCLE 1

Recordings: Facebook Video - YouTube Video

Facilitator: Edwin Rutsch
Participants

    1. Andy Katz

    2. , Buffy Wicks

    3. Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto

    4. Owen Poindexter,

    5. Pranav Jandhyala

EMPATHY CIRCLE 2

Recordings: * Facebook Video * YouTube Video

Facilitator: Edwin Rutsch
Participants

  1. Raquella Thaman

  2. Dan Kalb

  3. Sergey Piterman

  4. Cheryl Sudduth

  5. Judy Appel

  6. Jovanka Beckles rep.,



MEDIA

Assembly Candidates Get 'Radical' in Empathy Workshop
By Danielle Kaye - Daily California

"The Radical Empathy Forum differed from typical political discussions in that it emphasized active listening rather than debate. "


Talk-It-Out Radio

KPFA - April 9 2018

Talk-It-Out Radio host Timothy Regan, interviews Edwin Rutsch about the Radial Empathy Forum with Assembly District 15 Candidates""


Assembly Candidates Get 'Radical' in Empathy Workshop

By Guy Marorati

KQED News - April 8, 2018

"On Saturday, they had to put their stump speeches aside and focus on two ideas that may seem out of place during campaign season: empathy and caring."




POSITON PAPERS


Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto: Empathy

“For me empathy is taking the time to see something from someone else’s perspective. It may only take a few seconds, but active listening requires a person to set down their phone, stop thinking about what they are going to say next and really listen to what the other person has to say. …”


Raquella Thaman: A Story of Empathy

“I had a brief statement prepared on my ideas about how important empathy is to clear and effective communication and how it must be central to public service of any kind. Instead I’d like to relate an experience I had today that was a stellar example of how we can build a more empathic and caring culture….”


Owen Poindexter: Empathy

“Empathy is what allows us to move beyond tribalism. By having love and compassion for people who we don't necessarily share a family, religion, political boundary or whatever else we use to define ourselves, we allow for a world that reflects our best values...”


Judy Appel: A Story of Empathy

“In addition to listening, empathy involves love, trust and allowing oneself to be personally vulnerable. It is important to me to embrace all of these qualities as a mom, a friend, a family member, and in my professional life…”


Dan Kalb: How might we build a more empathic and caring culture

“Making a conscious effort to empathize with others, if successful, can help hone in on what the other person or persons really feel(s) they need most. Compassion is a necessary quality of successful empathic interaction….”