Corona Dialogues

Corona Dialogues is a virtual discussion series that will explore the impact and ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, work from the ground-up to discover innovative solutions across silos and communities and begin building new frameworks for the future. Occurring in three phases, these conversations will be grounded in the Civic Reflection Dialogue method, which uses materials such as text, artwork, music, or video, as the starting point for conversation.

PHASE I: Past Prologue, Future Tense. Participants will discuss an excerpt from Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union speech and reflect on civic life in uncertain times, then and now. Each dialogue will have a different set of facilitators offering new approaches to explore the topic.

PHASE II: Dreaming of New Worlds Science Fiction Workshop. Local science fiction author Maurice Broaddus will lead a workshop for community members wishing to build a new future together. Maurice will use the power of the literary arts to transition the Corona Dialogues into a phase where participants can imagine new possibilities and action steps.

Phase III: Building New Worlds. This phase will pivot and bring participants together in groups based on their interests to create new solutions and working models for the future. What comes from this will be shared publicly as a framework anyone can use for future work towards systemic change. Each topic will have 2-3 brainstorming sessions, and these include the following with sub-categories:

1. Equity and Racial Justice (Racial Justice, Policy Reform, Police Violence)
2. Community Health and Wellness (Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Environmental Justice, Health Equity, Community Violence and Contemplative and Spiritual Practice, Senior Care)
3. Food Access and Security
4. Youth Development (K-12 Education, Community Education)
5. Equitable Development and Economics (Worker’s Rights, Evictions, Housing Policy)
6. Policy and Systems Change (Political Processes, Movement Building)

PHASE III DATES: To be determined based on community feedback during Phase I and II.