Race & Ethnicity Wrap Up (Race & Ethnicity Conversation Series)

Conversation Guide

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For additional training materials, please review our Talking About Race resources here: https://livingroom.s052.wptstaging.space/talking-about-race/

The ability to have meaningful conversations on Race and Ethnicity will be instrumental in developing a society that reflects the multi-faceted population of this country. However, this skill is not taught in schools, nor is it easily acquired. Unless one is part of a diverse community comprised of members willing to intentionally share their experiences with one another for mutual growth, most people will not have deep exposure to these conversations. The purpose of this conversation series is to help participants increase their capacity to engage in discussions that many typically experience as polarizing. This guide assumes that participant have completed both the Race and Ethnicity Conversations and have a desire to go deeper into personal narratives on these topics.

Background Information:

(This is the third and final conversation in our Race & Ethnicity series of three conversations. You can check out the first two here and here. You can also listen to a podcast recording of this conversation here.) 

Let's Get Started!

This Living Room Conversation flows through TWO rounds of questions, which is different than our standard format of three rounds. Some rounds ask you to answer each question. Others feature multiple questions that serve as conversation starters — you need only respond to the one or two you find most interesting.

Before You Begin...

Please go over the Conversation Agreements with your participants.

Introductions: Getting Started/
Why Are We Here?

  • What are you looking forward to in this final conversation on race and ethnicity?

Round One: What have we learned about Race & Ethnicity?

Remember that the goal for this Living Room Conversation is for all of us to listen and learn about where we have different opinions and where we have shared interests, intentions, and goals.

Speak from your own understanding.  Be open to others. Be curious. Seek to listen in the manner that you would like to be heard.  This is a rare opportunity to speak your own stories around race & ethnicity, and listen to others do the same.  Answer two or more of the following questions as time allows:

  1. In this conversation series, we’ve had two extensive conversations on race and ethnicity. What, if anything, have you been dwelling on or wrestling with from those conversations?
  2. Who, if anyone, would you have liked to bring into the previous conversations and why?
  3. Who, if anyone, have you told about participating in these conversations? If no one, why not? If you have told anyone, what were some of their responses and how did they make you feel?
  4. Is there anything that you learned from the previous two conversations, that has changed the way you view the value of having conversations on race and ethnicity?
  5. What emotions come up for you as you think of having future conversations on this subject with others who do not share your point of view?
  6. Has participation in this cohort shifted your perception of your own personal racial and ethnic narrative in any way?
  7. Is there anything you’ve been wanting to ask another member of the group but did not feel comfortable doing so?

Round Two: Reflection & Next Steps

Answer one or more of the following questions:

  • In one sentence, share what was most meaningful / valuable to you in the experience of this Living Room Conversation.
  • What is one important thing you thought was accomplished here?
  • Is there a next step you would like to take based upon the conversation you just had?
  • Are there any resources that you would like to share with the group to support their efforts in creating capacity for these types of conversations?

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Thank You!