Reconnect through Empathy

Hosted by Gentle Facts | Jen Ma

Zoom

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About Event

Frustrated about people falling for misinformation? Discouraged by how impossible it seems to talk to them? Feeling hurt that the disagreement is damaging your relationship?

You are not alone. And it doesn't have to be this way.

Over the years, I've talked to many people who subscribe to misinformation, including friends & internet strangers that send me nasty messages. I know how stressful it can be to talk about misinformation.⁠

But ever since I adopted a compassion-led approach, I have not once gotten into a yelling match. More often than not, we leave with better understanding & a more open mind.

Instead of judgment, ridicule, and blame, which only further inflame the polarization in our communities, building trust through empathy is what we need to reach those who have been misled. After all, most people have good intentions and we can always find common ground in our shared values.

Through this workshop, we will

examine what makes people believe in misinformation and overcome our judgment,
reflect on our previous conflicts to better understand the underlying values and needs,
practice nonviolent communication to reconnect and rebuild trust.

These skills drawn from evidence-based practices in science communication & conflict resolution will allow you to approach misinformation with confidence & optimism.

We encourage you to bring examples for role-play and discussion.

We are limiting the number of spots to ensure you get the most out of this workshop. Register to secure your spot!

Facilitator
Dr. Jennifer Ma is scientist-turned-artist and science communicator. Her latest project, Gentle Facts combats online hate and misinformation by spreading compassion and facts. She envisions a world where talking about science brings people closer together.

Financial Support
A lot of research and work has gone into this workshop, which is currently valued at $50. To make this workshop more accessible, we offer a sliding scale starting from $10. Your contribution will help support this work and allow us to bring it to more people.