Conversation Cafes

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Brief Description:

Conversation Cafe is an informal dialogue method which invites people to take part in discussions about topical issues in an informal setting.

Description:

'Conversation Cafes' is a generic name for activities that involve informal, hosted, drop-in discussions in cafes, bookshops and other public places.

The http://www.conversationcafe.org/ organisation in the US has produced a set of process guidelines and agreements to encourage good practice. These include six principles for good conversation:

Open-mindedness: Listen to and respect all points of view.
Acceptance: Suspend judgment as best you can.
Curiosity: Seek to understand rather than persuade.
Discovery: Question assumptions, look for new insights.
Sincerity: Speak what has personal heart and meaning.
Brevity: Go for honesty and depth but don’t go on and on.

The Conversationcafe organisation also provides the following tips for organising a successful event:

Assemble up to 8 people plus host; agree a hearty topic, find a “talking object”, and set a time (60-90 min.). The host explains the process and agreements.
Round 1: Pass around the talking object; each person
speaks briefly to the topic, no feedback or response.
Round 2: Again with talking object, each person deepens
their own comments or speaks to what has meaning now.
Dialogue: Open, spirited conversation. Use talking object
if there is domination, contention, or lack of focus.
Final Round: With talking object, each person says briefly
what was meaningful to them.

Used For:

To stimulate debate about a topic among interested people
To meet and build relationships with new people and groups
To take part in interesting conversation about topical issues

Suitable participants:

Anyone - the process is usually open to anybody who is interested in the topic.

Cost:

Low. All that is needed is a space to host the conversation, usually a cafe or other public space, and somebody who is willing to host the discussion.

Time Requirements:

A conversation cafe usually lasts between 1-2 hours.

When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

Conversation Cafes are informal meetings where the discussion is seen as the end in itself, rather than a means towards a goal such as reaching consensus or making a decision.