"Building a Culture of Trust" is the theme of a workshop in Rochester Monday evening.
Sherry Walker, president and CEO of the Center for Dispute Settlement, says the goal is to teach skills to avoid or resolve disputes between neighbors, family members, or law enforcement and the community.
Walker says political conversations, for example, don't have to be a debate. They can be civil if the participants approach the conversations as an exchange of information.
"Understand that different doesn't mean wrong. We don't allow each other to be different. We are also in a win-lose situation. We still think that way, and politics really helps bring that out. If I win that means you lose. If I lose, that means you win. That doesn't have to be the case."
Walker says one good technique that mediators use and anyone can borrow, is to actively listen to the person you're talking to.
"We tend to ask questions and when people are talking we're analyzing and preparing our next statement. But to really listen for understanding is a different kind of listening."
Tonight's Center for Dispute Settlement workshop is scheduled at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center on Chestnut Street, across from the Strong Museum. It's free and open to the public, but reservations are required by visiting http://www.cdsadr.org/
