Saturday Seminar — Walk the Talk: Achieving Civility and Respect in Times of Polarization

Give yourself a gift to start off the holiday season! Plan now for your fall professional development! SIETAR USA and SIETAR Minnesota have opened registration for the November 17th Inaugural SIETAR USA Saturday Seminar: Walk the Talk: Achieving Civility and Respect in Times of Polarization. This full-day seminar will take place at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN.

Speakers include:

• William J. Doherty: educator, researcher, therapist, speaker, author, consultant, and community organizer who will draw on his experience to lay the groundwork for the day with an opening keynote address on cultural polarization in our times. The title of his keynote address will be: Polarized Politics and Polarized People: How Can We Move Forward?
• Shannon Murphy Robinson: specializing in the neuroscience of diversity & inclusion and cultural agility will build on the keynote by exploring the role that the brain plays in polarization and how to work with the brain to bridge the us/them divide.
• Karen J. Lokkesmoe: specialist in the intersection of intercultural and leadership competencies, she will present another take on cultural polarization drawing on core cultural frameworks that contribute to the complexity of polarization. 
• Nagesh Rao: professor, storyteller, statistician, poet, and author, he will present strategies for bridging differences in education, health and business contexts.
• Saumya Pant: activist and teacher will apply her expertise in interpersonal communication by demonstrating how stories can create dialogue and be powerful agents of change in highly divisive societies.
  
• Holly Emert: will close the day with a big picture recap of the day and a call to action with time to reflect on how participants might use the knowledge, skills, and strategies presented in their own contexts.
  

During this full-day event you will have the opportunity to hear from seasoned professionals who share their deep knowledge, insights, and strategies to address a topic relevant to our professional, educational, political and personal worlds. Time for reflection, discussing, connecting and networking are built into the program. Also included is time to mingle with colleagues over a continental breakfast and a delicious lunch.