Living Room Dialogues (LRD)
Click here for the list of past LRD's
The Living Room Dialogue is a methodology developed by the Network for Peace through Dialogue for mutual learning among grassroots groups. The aim is to promote international understanding among local groups.
The process is one example of a popular education process in that it:
Is inclusive and accessible to people with a variety of education levels,
Addresses the issues people face in their communities,
Is based on the lived experience of those participating in the learning,
Is participatory,
Is interactive.
The structure of the discussion
There is always a topic for the discussion. Sometimes there is a person who has an experience to share and sometimes there are reflections from partner groups to discuss.
What is needed?
Someone needs to draw the group together and someone needs to lead the session. There also needs to be a note-taker who will write up the session. If the group is large, a time keeper and a vibes watcher (one who keeps aware of feelings in the group and will interrupt if they note feelings which are going unattended) can help.
A two-hour program may look like this:
Introduction of the topic and the people present (10 minutes)
Review the ground rules if the group is new (5 minutes)
Presentation of the topic (up to 20 minutes)
You will need a note-taker here.
Open the floor for discussion (60-75 minutes)
You will need a note-taker here.
Conclusion (10 minutes)
Invite each person to reflect for a couple of minutes and then to share something that was a new learning for them during the session. If some people do not want to speak that is fine. You will need a note-taker here.
Ground Rules : Throughout the process you and the others are trying to clarify thinking and gain a better understanding of the topic. Listen to the other, do not interrupt, keep to the topic. Try to find common ground. If you cannot reach common ground, agree to disagree. Do not dominate.
An internationally renowned Peace Educator, Betty Reardon of Teacher's College, Columbia University, recently described the process like this,
"I like the concept of Living Room Dialogues - its organizing purpose is the inter-linking of people on the ground from different places on the planet. Changes will come from the ground. We need to encourage this kind of conversation to develop thinking for a process of change. In the conversation all have something to say. This is a way to come to a common knowledge. This is the basis of what we have to do." (6/5/03)
See recent events page to investigate the latest conversations and see the entire archives list.
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An internationally renowned Peace Educator, Betty Reardon (of Teacher's College, Columbia University, recently described the process like this:
"I like the concept of Living Room Dialogues. It's organizing purpose is the inter-linking of people on the ground from different places on the planet. Changes will come from the ground. We need to encourage this kind of conversation to develop thinking for a process of change. In the conversation all have something to say. This is a way to come to a common knowledge. This is the basis of what we have to do." (6-5-03)
Anne Considine with Marta Silva on September 8, 2005
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