Kai Degner » Dialogue and Deliberation

What goes best with conversation?

kaidegner — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:20:27 +0000

Certified Organic, Fairly Traded Coffee Roasted in the Shenandoah Valley

When I was in business classes, we learned about “complementary goods and services.” These are products that are consumed with other products. For example, if you’re in the business of selling hot dogs, you might also offer buns and ketchup.

For the longest time, I’ve thought about what are the complementary goods to the conversation and listening promoted by The OrangeBand Initiative, Harrisonburg Summits, and the work at the Community Mediation Center (soon to be renamed the Fairfield Center). Well, yesterday we announced a perfect complement to any conversation:

Grounds for Conversation

Yes, our own line of coffee! What goes better with conversation than coffee? And not just any coffee. This coffee is certified organic, fairly traded, and roasted right here in the Shenandoah Valley within 24 hours of when we place an order.

All orders are pick-up only, so we’ll need to make special arrangements for anyone out of the area. There are four choices for Grounds for Conversation:

Four Quality Choices!

All coffee comes ground in 12oz bags, and is roasted the day we place your order!

Mediator’s Medium

Named for our core service, Mediator Medium has a mild acidity, light body and smooth flavor. Featuring a vanilla toned sweetness, this fine organic deserves appreciation as a distinctive specialty coffee.

Summit Sensation

Named for the Harrisonburg Summit series, Summit Sensation is a blend of wonderful Organic coffees from South and Central America. A nutty, caramel like flavor, with a full bodied, heady aroma.

Facilitator’s French Roast

When coffee is dark roasted its acidity and flavor is subdued. For that reason our French Roast is a blend of coffee’s which are renowned for their acidity and full flavor. This allows those of you who love dark roasts to still enjoy the best flavor in your cup.

Listener’s Decaf

The Listener’s Decaf is a blend of Central and South American beans, hand- selected from the finest farms in their regions. We roast these beans to a medium dark brown to release their rich, full flavor and accentuate the exceptional body and perfect balance. This is a water-processed coffee (12oz, ground bag).

Click here for more information! Orders by Thursday at midnight will arrive in time for Christmas and can be the perfect stocking stuffer.

Who will you interview on the National Day of Listening?

kaidegner — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:01:04 +0000

Put plainly, I don’t think there’s anything more important to practice and promote than listening. Earlier this year, I worked with a number of local friends and colleagues at the Community Mediation Center to design and pilot Listening 101, a one-month course that focuses on this all-important skill and mindset, which I’ll write more about in the future.

So, I’m thrilled to learn about the National Day of Listening, which occurs the day after Thanksgiving. The project is championed by StoryCorps, which is working to record people’s stories – with willing listeners (you’ve probably heard examples on National Public Radio). The idea is simple: record an interview with someone in your life – and be listening as they share.

There is a Do It Yourself Kit on the website, and there is information in this video.

Here’s a Great Questions List to get your conversation started!

Who will you listening to?

On the Eve of the Intercultural/Interfaith Summit

kaidegner — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:58:28 +0000

In less than 24 hours, the Harrisonburg Intercultural/Interfaith Summit will be underway. The vision for this event is a few months old, and is simple: provide an opportunity to build bridges across the many cultural communities in Harrisonburg. We have 53 languages spoken in our school system, but, as in many communities, don’t connect across the invisible barriers the language and cultural differences create. Tomorrow is a step to build those bridges.

Two weeks ago, I was a little nervous about the event, as not so many people had registered. Well, interest has really picked up and, as of this moment, there are 68 partner organizations and 142 people registered and a few hundred other people thinking about attending. I was just interrupted by an elderly gentleman calling me to inquire if his coalition, Veteran’s for Peace, could attend – of course!

How has this interest been created? I’ll submit it wasn’t created at all – the interest already existed and was simply recognized and focused on a time and place by actively extending an invitation to listen to people about what they care about (not talk at people about what we care about).

Keep an eye on www.HarrisonburgSummits.com over the next day and week and see what topics and conversations are created. And, as with any Open Space meeting, be prepared to be surprised!

Video of Open Space Technology for Harrisonburg Summits

kaidegner — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:00:24 +0000

I’m excited about this 3-minute video that captures the energy at a Harrisonburg Summit. You’ll see footage from May’s Sustainability Summit, which is archived online. I was honored to have Harrison Owen, the founder of Open Space Technology, come visit me to give guidance on how to design the first summit. Over 150 people came, created 30 break out conversations, and turned downtown into a conference center. Harrisonburg Summits continue, with two more planned this year (Intercultural/Interfaith Oct 22 and Sustainability II Nov 14).

I’m offering the service of coordinating these summits through my position at the Community Mediation Center (soon to change to “The Fairfield Center”). Currently, I’m working with the Northern Shenanoah Valley Regional Commission to do a “Housing Forum” for their five-county area in November.