When it comes to tackling difficult conversations, authentic conversation should be the rule rather than the exception, says Lauren Maxwell, a Master of Divinity candidate at Yale Divinity School. And from what she's discovered over the past six months, she's not the only one who thinks so.
Maxwell, a native of Aiken, South Carolina, says she's come to understand that talking about challenging topics - including politics, religion, and social issues - doesn't have to be toxic. Anyone who takes the time to "cultivate" conversation that honors the experience of others, she says, can incorporate illuminating, respectful exchanges into their daily lives.
Over the past academic year, Maxwell and more than 1o0 other Yale students took part in a pilot leadership development program that offers students the tools to engage in meaningful conversation with those who offer different opinions and perspectives. The program, called the Cultivating Conversation Student Fellowship, included students from Yale College, as well as every graduate and professional school.
