We launched Every Conversation Counts to teach skills and build confidence for engaging in meaningful conversations with people regardless of party.
Do you dread conversations at the Thanksgiving table with family members when politics come up? Do you feel at a loss for words when a neighbor says something hateful about President Biden? Are you wondering how we’ll ever solve our local problems, much less our national challenges, if we can’t even talk to each other without yelling?
We’ve all felt that way at times! And that’s why we created Every Conversation Counts.
Every Conversation Counts will equip local Democrats to engage in meaningful conversations with people of all political stripes. We want to build the skills and confidence needed to engage with people in all kinds of situations – from family and neighborhood gatherings to phone banking and canvassing – in ways that allow genuine connections and mutual understanding around political issues. And we want to live our Democratic values even when we’re in a challenging conversation.
We started with two Every Conversation Counts Workshops led by State Senator Chloe Maxmin and her campaign manager Canyon Woodward. She won her 2018 State House and 2020 State Senate campaigns, against all odds, in the most rural county in the state, by talking to thousands of voters, without regard to party registration. They used deep canvassing techniques in their campaign, and adapted them to teach us “deep conversation” skills to use in all kinds of contexts. You can find Chloe and Canyon’s presentation and a recording of the workshop on our Meetings & Events page.
The workshops got us started with important conversation skills and practice. Now we’re working to share and improve those skills.
Step One: We created a Facebook community where we can share resources, get to know each other, and look for opportunities to connect and practice together. It’s a private FB group for people who have taken the ECC Workshops, but we’re happy to consider requests to join from other interested Democrats too. Here’s the link you’ll need to find the page and ask to join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/190092279930230.
Step Two: We’re sharing resources that help people bridge the partisan divide. You’ll find several of them below, and even more in our Facebook group.
Step Three: We’re practicing our skills together. We’ll get together on zoom to do role playing, with a chance to ask questions and really get into the weeds. Sign up for our email list so you’ll hear about them as they’re scheduled. First up – a Braver Angels Watch Party on March 23, check out our Calendar for details.
Step Four: We’re exploring new ways to use our skills “in real life” – stay tuned!
Learn more about how to make Every Conversation Count
- “Talk Like a Neighbor: Non-Polarizing Communication Tips for Rural Candidates” (July 2024) from the Rural Urban Divide Initiative offers evidence-based methods for communicating effectively in rural areas on Democratic issues and values.
- “The Science Behind Good Listening and Why It Matters” is an On Point program featuring interviews with a journalist who has written on the subject, and a Braver Angels ambassador. They make a convincing case for learning the skills that make cross-party conversations possible. Learn more and listen to the program here.
- This study of deep canvassing techniques (like those used by Chloe Maxmin and Canyon Woodward) explains a groundbreaking experiment testing the political power of this approach.
- Maine Public has a great piece on how Maine’s Planned Parenthood is using deep canvassing to connect with voters in a closely-divided town in Southern Maine. You can read or listen here.
- Here are the presentation slides Chloe and Canyon created for the ECC Workshops. You can also watch a recording of the workshop.
- Senator Chloe Maxmin and campaign manager Canyon Woodward have a book about their campaigns and how Democrats can win back voters in mostly-red rural counties. Learn more about Dirt Road Revival – How to rebuild rural politics and why our future depends on it.