2018-04-07: EMPATHY FORUM
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 was held using the Empathy Circle dialogue process as a way to move from combative debate to constructive dialogue.
Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Time: 3 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: UC Berkeley - Genetics & Plant Biology, Room 100
(Near Oxford St and Hearst Ave)
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
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 took take part in a Radical Empathy Forum discussing: "How might we build a more empathic and caring culture?"
Welcome and thanks to Hosts, Candidates, Cosponsors,
Empathy Tent
Empathy in Politics
EMPATHY CIRCLE 1
With Andy Katz, Buffy Wicks, Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto, Owen Poindexter, Pranav Jandhyala, Edwin Rutsch
Facebook Video and YouTube Video:
EMPATHY CIRCLE 2
With Raquella Thaman, Dan Kalb, Sergey Piterman, Cheryl Sudduth, Judy Appel, Jovanka Beckles rep., Edwin Rutsch
By Danielle Kaye - Daily California
"The Radical Empathy Forum differed from typical political discussions in that it emphasized active listening rather than debate. "
By Guy Marorati
"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."
https://kpfa.org/…/talk-it-out-radio-a…/
KPFA - April 9 2018
Talk-It-Out Radio host Timothy Regan, interviews Edwin Rutsch about the Radial Empathy Forum with Assembly District 15 Candidates""
POSITION PAPERS
“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. …”
“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….”
“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...”
“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….”