Water and Life
Conversation Guide
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Water is an essential part of all our lives and the lives of all living things, yet the quality and access to water varies around the world and in the United States. Extreme weather, pollution, and lack of infrastructure can significantly impact our relationship with this precious resource. What is our role in protecting this resource? Our community’s role? The government’s role? Industry’s role? In this conversation, we’ll explore our personal stories with water as well as our hopes and concerns moving forward.
Background Information:
This guide was created in collaboration CIRES’ “We Are Water” project, an effort to connect communities and share both stories and a sense of place in the Southwestern United States.Let's Get Started!
Living Room Conversations offers a simple, sociable and structured way to practice communicating across differences while building understanding and relationships. Typically, 4-6 people meet in person or by video call for about 90 minutes to listen to and be heard by others on one of our nearly 100 topics. Rather than debating or convincing others, we take turns talking to share, learn, and be curious. No preparation is required, though background links with balanced views are available on some topic pages online. Anyone can host using these italicized instructions. Hosts also participate.
Introductions:
Why We're Here (~10 min)
Each participant has 1 minute to introduce themselves.
Share your name, where you live, what drew you here, and if this is your first conversation.
Conversation Agreements:
How We'll Engage (~5 min)
These will set the tone of our conversation; participants may volunteer to take turns reading them aloud. (Click here for the full conversation agreements.)
- Be curious and listen to understand.
- Show respect and suspend judgment.
- Note any common ground as well as any differences.
- Be authentic and welcome that from others.
- Be purposeful and to the point.
- Own and guide the conversation.
Question Rounds:
What We’ll Talk About
Optional: a participant can keep track of time and gently let people know when their time has elapsed.
Round 1:
Getting to Know Each Other (~10 min)
Each participant can take 1-2 minutes to answer one of these questions:
- What are your hopes and concerns for your family, community and/or the country?
- What would your best friend say about who you are?
- What sense of purpose / mission / duty guides you in your life?
Round 2:
One participant can volunteer to read the paragraph at the top of the web page.
Take ~2 minutes each to answer a question below without interruption or crosstalk. After everyone has answered, the group may take a few minutes for clarifying or follow up questions/responses. Continue exploring additional questions as time allows..
- Think about your life and experiences. What is your favorite memory or personal story with water or bodies of water?
- Think of all the communities you are a part of. How does water connect you to your community?
- Have you or someone close to you ever experienced a scarcity of water? What was that like?
- What changes have you seen in issues around water in the region? In the access to water or amount of water in local lakes or rivers?
- What is currently missing in our conversations related to water?
- What are your hopes and concerns around the future of water use for your community and for others?
Round 3:
Reflecting on the Conversation (~15 min)
Take 2 minutes to answer one of the following questions:
- What was most meaningful / valuable to you in this Living Room Conversation?
- What learning, new understanding or common ground was found on the topic?
- How has this conversation changed your perception of anyone in this group?
- Is there a next step you would like to take based upon the conversation?
