Vancouver CampusSeptember 21, 2016

The Gateway To Race RelationsWorld Café Dialogue

“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because

conscience tells him it is right.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A Small KeyCan open a large door

Discovering Idioms A hot potato Penny for your thoughts Actions speak louder than words Add insult to injury Cry over spilt milk

Identify 5 or more idioms at your tablein 3 minutes

Race Relations Current State of the Problem

Sixty-nine percent of Americans say race relations are generally bad

The New York Times/ CBS poll, conducted from Friday, the day after the killing of five Dallas police officers, until Tuesday, found that six in 10 Americans say race relations were growing worse, up from 38 percent a year ago.

Caldera

Defining the Problem

“I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and then five minutes solving it.”

Highlighting just a few……• Baltimore, Baton Rouge, St. Paul Minnesota, Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, Ferguson, New York, San

Bernardino, Colorado Springs, Orlando, Milwaukee, et al• Police relations, police being shot, and biased actions from police…• Black on Black crime or incarceration rates• Political Correctness limiting feelings and speech; stopping the dialogue• Black, Asian, Hispanic et al communities – White Communities perceived as racist if spoken• Voting ID requirements, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Politics in General• Slavery’s socio-economic and family structure legacy impact• White Privilege, White Guilt, White Males in general• Lack of White Male voices in the diversity and race relations discussions• Criticism of President Obama perceived as racist • Refugees (current Syrian crisis), illegal immigration, amnesty• Use of N Word or other “owned” words by minorities, hip hop music with racist or demeaning lyrics….• IT, Television, Social Media diversity leadership and demographic• Affirmative Action, MD 715 Numbers, goals, barriers even unseen, Special Emphasis groups (except white

males)• EEO Discrimination• Black Lives Matter/All Lives Matter?• Unconscious Bias from everyone• Understanding the word diversity - what does it mean and who may perceive differently?• Low income housing/gentrification of urban areas,, segregated or forced integration of schools• University student protests nationwide against perceived /real racism, discrimination on campus

Why use the

World Café format?

Purpose of the World Café

Generate input, share knowledge, stimulate innovative thinking, explore action possibilities

for improving race relations.

Create a dense web of connections in a short period of time as threads of the dialogue reveal

new patterns and collective discoveries.

What to expect in aWorld Café

Dialogue

Collaborative dialogue Connect diverse perspectives

Opportunity to meet people

At a glance… Three (3) progressive rounds of conversation

with each round addressing one question

At the end of each round, each table briefly reports out and then all participants except

table host move to a different table

New question discussed while linking and connecting ideas with previous conversation rounds. Flipchart/table sheets provided to create a visual memory of the conversation

Café Etiquette Focus on the question that matters; others surface Contribute your thinking and beliefs Speak your mind and heart - Own your comments Lots of I’s not “we or all” think this or that way Contributions to dialogue; not “winning” or

convincing others No right or wrong contributions Listen together for connecting ideas, insights, and

understanding of others After each round, with except of table host, others

move to new tables, carrying new ideas and questions to the next conversation table host.

Table HostsBefore getting started, each table will need to identify a table host (not facilitator) who remains at the table during the 3 conversation rounds to: 

welcome newcomers

share the main ideas, themes and questions

encourage employees to link and connect ideas

Round 1National Conversation on Race

Why do you think we need to start a “National Conversation on Race?”

What benefits could be created from a respectful race relations dialogue?

Round 2Media Effects on Race Relations

Do polls and the media, including newspapers, social media postings, radio,

and television accurately portray the current state of race relations? Why?

How does 24/7 coverage and reporting tragic events either improve or harm the

dialogue?

HarvestingCollective Discoveries

What ideas came up across tables & conversations?

What new ideas & possibilities were emerging?

Round 3Political Correctness and Politics

Do you prefer straight talk ,with respect, or restraining your speech to continue the

conversation? Why?

In today’s political climate, where do you draw the line in hateful rhetoric; including using or hearing words such as racist spoken about or to someone?

In using these words, does this contribute to or take away from the dialogue?

Harvesting Collective Discoveries

What aha’s, significant emotional events, or surprises emerged

at your tables?How might we act on this new understanding?

Creating Forward Movement

Are we prepared to redraw the map for race relations discussion?

What would it take to create change? What needs our immediate attention? How can we support each other in taking next

steps? What unique contribution can we make to make

the most difference for the future of race relations?

Individual Reflection

What has been your major learning or insight?

What area instilled curiosity within the dialogue?

How might you act on this new understanding?

Important Evaluation of your experience today.

Gateway to Race Relations

Started today from a single conversation of committed volunteer employees; more will want to be a part of

the conversation; the vision is to become an unparalleled, powerful employee experience

throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs….

Together, we continue the national conversation on race relations and you are part of history!

Dr. John FullerOffice of DiversityDepartment of Veterans AffairsJohn.Fuller2@va.gov1-202-491-5969

The Gateway To Race RelationsWorld Café Dialogue

Vancouver CampusSeptember 21, 2016

John Fuller, Ed.D.Chief Employee Engagement EducatorOffice of Diversity and InclusionJohn.fuller2@va.gov1-202-491-5969