In our August Blog, the Community Relations Committee (CRC) reflected on the development of the WES Pact with its four substantive areas conveying communication skills, behaviors, and attitudes: improving communication, sustaining positive relationships, resolving conflicts, and building healthy community. 

In this blog, we want to engage with you about what would be the most effective and impactful ways for us to focus our attention on improving how we communicate with each other more effectively. We would also like to solicit your ideas on how we convey them most effectively using virtual platforms.

 1. Focusing Our Attention on Improving Communication at WES

For improving communication, we are thinking about using Non-Violent Communication with an added “power differential” component to acknowledge and include various communities (people of color, LGBTQ, disability, and other communities) who have been subject to institutional discrimination. For sustaining positive relationships, we are thinking about education around maintaining healthy boundaries. For resolving conflict, we are looking at various programs to address conflict and controversial issues. We want to learn and practice listening to and understanding someone whose views are the polar opposite of ours, finding our common concerns, and reframing the question so that we can work together on our common concerns while avoiding pitfalls.  We would also introduce the Stepwise Management of Conflict at WES. Finally, for building healthy communities, we are thinking about addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Question:  How do these ideas sound to you, and what other ideas or suggestions might you have?

2. How to convey these skill areas most effectively via Zoom.

We’ve been wondering what has been most troublesome about Zoom communication so that we can better understand how to structure these learning opportunities.  

Question: How do we conduct these educational opportunities most effectively to hold your interest? 

We would like to hear your feedback on these two issues as you feel most comfortable. The CRC members are Jo London, Chair, Laura Tyler, Randy Myers, and Allison Adcock-Melgosa.  Please contact us at CRC@ethicalsociety.org as we go forth to design, create, and encourage our best ways to communicate with each other.