By Beth Sluys
Northside News
The room was filled with families, seniors, community members and police officers. Participants were welcomed by Officer Alexandra Nieves Reyes, who suggested they should get some of the delicious food before taking their seats. People were milling about, not altogether certain what the format or the outcome would be.
Haywood Simmons provided the inspiration and spoke to the importance of listening. Simmons, a life coach, personal trainer and radio show host here in Madison, offered a message of hope, compassion and a belief that change is possible but it takes work. Simmons introduced the Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, based in Milwaukee, and told the group that trained facilitators would be guiding small listening circles. The goal of the listening circles is to build trust and relationships between police and residents, resulting in stronger and safer communities, and opening the channels of communication.
The large group broke into small circles, designated by number. Each person was assigned randomly, creating conversation circles that were varied and afforded an opportunity to meet neighbors and local police officers. Each circle held space for dialogue between the residents and police officers, one personal story at a time, eye-to-eye, calmly seated and guided through a structured listening process. Questions for residents were focused on personal experiences involving law enforcement, both positive and challenging. The officers told stories of their experiences with residents, both positive and challenging. The stories and the perspective of the storyteller made for a learning opportunity for all in attendance.
When asked about the listening circles, both Katherine Wilson of the Zeidler Center and Lisa Dugdale of the Center for Community Stewardship agreed that the circles offer “a different format for people to have discussions and one that involves both police and residents.”
The intent was for participants to leave with a better understanding that both residents and police officers care about and want to improve our community and to feel that they were on the bridge together toward a common goal — trust. Perhaps future listening circles can be the opening for this dialogue to continue and positive changes to happen.
The Center for Community Stewardship, in collaboration with the Zeidler Center for Public Discussion, will host listening circle events into May 2019. A total of six sessions are planned. They are funded, in part, through a Safe and Thriving Communities Grant.
The next Police and Resident Listening Circle will be Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Sherman Avenue United Methodist Church, 3705 N. Sherman Ave. A free, shared meal starts at 6 pm, with the circles forming at 6:45 pm. Child care is provided. RSVP is appreciated at www.community-stewardship.org/northside. You can also visit this site to sign up for the newsletter for notices about upcoming listening circle events.
All are welcome.