EngageEventsListening Well After the 2020 Election: How Do We Connect Across Political Difference?
Citizenship Icon Dialogue Icon Wellness Icon
Past Event

Listening Well After the 2020 Election: How Do We Connect Across Political Difference?

Register
Overlapping face silhouettes in red and blue

The 2020 U.S. election emphasized deep U.S. fragmentation around issues of culture, economics, race and even responses to the COVID 19 pandemic. As Thanksgiving approaches and we imagine encountering friends and family who may have voted differently than we did, how are we thinking about those conversations? Is there a way to restore trust and repair relationships?

In this current moment it can feel especially hard to engage in dialogue across difference as conversation invites openness and vulnerability. Join the SNF Paideia Program as we learn from Batsirai Bvunzawabaya from Counseling and Psychological Services at Penn how we can listen to those with whom we may disagree in ways that best balance wellness. Lia Howard, a political scientist, and SNF Paideia’s student advising and wellness director will help provide context for this election as will our event co-sponsor the Fox Leadership Program’s Director of Operations, Andrew Arenge, who will provide insight into analyzing polling data.

This event will take place over Zoom with a combination of large and small break-out group portions. Registration required and open to Penn community.

Other Events of Interest

A Conversation with Michael Smerconish
Oct 2
Red & Blue Exchange

Polarization and the Media in American Politics: A Conversation with Michael Smerconish

Polarization and the Media in American Politics: A Conversation with Michael Smerconish Michael Smerconish is one of the nation’s most visible media personalities, with a daily radio show on Sirius/XM and a Saturday CNN show. He also provides analysis on CNN for big events, writes columns and books, and more. Maybe most uniquely: Michael is one of the few voices in the media who can’t be pigeonholed ideologically. He’ll be fielding questions on what it’s like to be somewhere in the center in our increasingly ideological media, how the media shapes our politics, what we can do to build a media that better serves the public, and whether prominent figures should be blacklisted from the media if they can’t tell the truth. We’ll also cover the state of politics and whether our two party system is capable of representing Americans like him in 2023. Michael will also field questions from the audience.Learn More
Oct 10

Martyrdom and the Coptic Church

The SNF Paideia designated course Orthodox America (RELS 3100/6100) taught by Professor Reyhan Durmaz invites all Penn community to the… Learn More
Oct 10

Martyrs and Migrants: Coptic Christians and the Transnational Politics of Persecution

Candace Lukasik, Assistant Professor of Religion at Mississippi State University will speak on, "Martyrdom and the Coptic… Learn More