Video: Dialogue, Community, and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has faced conflicts about healthcare access and public health protocols as well as economic instability, housing insecurity, and school closures. Problems flowing directly from the pandemic have been compounded by racial justice protests, environmental disasters, and the coming election, even while they have uncovered pre-existing social and political dysfunctions.
Throughout this tumultuous period, Essential Partners has supported schools, communities, and institutions as they hold life-and-death conversations about their shared futures and vulnerabilities. Our partners have found resilience and hope in their fellow community members. They have repaired their sense of community in a virtual, socially-distanced world. They have made a space to talk about their trauma and to heal together.
On October 23, 2020, Essential Partners’ Co-Executive Director John Sarrouf moderated a panel with four partners, all of whom have used RSD as a key component of their response to COVID-19:
- Judy Fleishman, Cambridge Health Alliance (MA)
- Cassie Meyer, Sewanee, University of the South (TN)
- Danielle Johnson-Webb, Cary Academy (NC)
- Scott Silk, Pacific Ridge School / Hands of Peace (CA)
Their stories reveal the transformative power of Reflective Structured Dialogue. If you're interested in learning more about RSD and how you can bring Essential Partners to your community, organization, or school, contact us for a free consultation.
