In a time when it feels like everyone is divided, The Mount Horeb Public Library invites the community to come together during their new Disagree Better: Building Connection Across Difference initiative. Designed to support constructive engagement, foster understanding, and build trust across diverse viewpoints, this multi-part program features guest speakers, discussion moderator training, and deliberation dinners which combine shared meals with guided conversations around meaningful topics. In partnership with the Village of Mount Horeb and the Mount Horeb Area School District, Disagree Better strives to reach across generations, organizations and perspectives, with a goal of creating spaces community where members can engage with different ideas—and with each other-- in a thoughtful way. Rather than avoiding disagreement, the program encourages participants to approach differences with curiosity, respect, and care.
This is a year long programming series. More events will be added!
Monday, March 9, 6pm (Note early start time)
Communicating Across Political Divides: The Power of Talking Together
Guest speaker: Amber Wichowsky, Associate Professor of Public Affairs and Leadership Wisconsin Endowed Chair for the Division of Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Across the country, Americans are coming together to talk across political differences in efforts that are building trust and reducing political polarization. This event will cover the latest research on civil discourse initiatives, as well as best practices and methods of public engagement. Following the public talk, participants will have the opportunity to brainstorm and discuss ways to apply these insights in our own community.
Tuesday, April 28, 6:30pm
Deciding What's True in a Polarized Society
Guest speaker: Michael W. Wagner, Professor Journalism, UW Madison
In a time when news is everywhere, all the time, it's important to think about the news we see, and how we interpret it. This talk with UW-Professor Michael Wagner reviews research on fake news, fact-checking, selective exposure to like-minded media outlets and describes the implications for democracy.
Michael W. Wagner is William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair of the Wisconsin Idea and Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he directs the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal. His work, exploring how individual interactions in the information ecology affect what people believe, what they want, and what they do has been published in prestigious journals such as Science, Journal of Communication, the International Journal of Press/Politics and in books he has co-authored at Cambridge University Press, CQ Press, and Sage Press.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 2
Discussion Moderator Training. More Details Soon!
g Across Political Divides:
The Power of Talking Together
Monday, March 9, 6pm*