T H E S E R I E S

“The older I get, the more convinced I am that the space between people who are trying their best to understand each other is hallowed ground.” —Fred Rogers

As America becomes increasingly diverse, we are also separated and polarized. How can we foster greater inclusion and belonging in our communities?

In 2019, we launched “A Year of Courageous Conversations” with special guest Krista Tippett of On Being to learn how to better hear, share and understand different lived experiences. Throughout our pilot year, we invited Barrington area community members and guest experts for a series of monthly talks designed to spark critical inquiry, awareness & growth. Topics included: The Art of Listening, Cultivating Curiosity, Understanding Privilege, Confronting Prejudice, Challenging Separation, Paying it Forward, and Practicing Courage.

Thanks to beautiful interest to keep learning and practicing together, the series continued through the pandemic, both virtually & in-person at Barrington’s White House.

T H E H O S T S

This series is co-hosted by Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque and Jessica Swoyer Green, and produced by Claire Nelson of Urban Consulate, in partnership with Barrington’s White House, a historic cultural center in the heart of downtown Barrington.

This series is made possible thanks to generous support from Jessica & Dominic Green, Kim Duchossois, Tyler & Danielle Lenczuk, Cobey & Erich Struckmeyer, Young Chung, Susan & Rich Padula, Carol & David Nelson, Julie Kanak & Mike Rigali, BMO Wealth Management and Barrington Area Community Foundation, and our amazing community partners & advisors.

T H E P L A C E

Thirty-five miles northwest of Chicago, in the countryside Village of Barrington, residents recognize the need to build a more inclusive community where everyone belongs.

By the numbers, Barrington is fortunate. Beloved for its traditional charm and quality of life, there is a growing interest in engaging the sometimes uncomfortable but necessary conversations we must have as neighbors and strangers to create a more inclusive future where everyone belongs.

Located 35 miles northwest of Chicago, Barrington’s White House began with a vision to turn a historic home on Main Street into the heart of the town. Built in 1898 and renovated in 2017, the house now serves as a welcoming cultural center for meetings, classes, exhibits, concerts & celebrations. The house is owned by the Village of Barrington and supported by the Friends of Barrington’s White House, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

When we opened registration for the May 2019 launch event, nearly 900 people signed up for 700 seats, and our first sessions sold out right away. Since then, we’ve engaged over a thousand people for learning and dialogue, both in person and online. We also launched a podcast, Becoming Courageous, and have partnered on additional gatherings, including book discussions, dinner & dialogues, fellowships, focus groups, fieldtrips and more.

T H E O R I G I N

After venturing off to other cities, two daughters of Barrington, Jessica Swoyer Green & Claire Nelson, found themselves struggling to have conversations with family & friends across difference and distance. This led to meaningful conversations with Rev. Dr. Zina Jacque and Lauren Hood about shaping a series of dialogues to learn and practice together. With support of their families and community advisors, partners and sponsors, many signed on to bring the program to life!

Defining Courage

What are we afraid of? What does it mean to have courage? Let's learn about the neuroscience of fear & courage, what is really going on inside our brains, and what tools & techniques we can use to control & respond to fear when it rises in us and blocks our progress.

Practicing Mindfulness

Our lives are stressful and busy, and our anxiety can impact our social interactions, especially those with whom we disagree. How can we practice mindfulness to bring our attention to the present moment, allow ourselves to think & breathe, and create space between ourselves & our reactions?

Cultivating Curiosity

We are born with wide eyes of wonder—but this curiosity can fade with age. How do we keep our fervor for learning, understanding & adapting to the changing world around us? How can we check our tendencies toward stubborn certainty, false confidence or confirmation bias? How do we remain open-minded to new ideas & divergent perspectives?

The Art of Listening

Active listening with less judgment and more curiosity, humility & empathy is a skill that takes training & practice. Journalists, therapists & clergy are taught this—how can more of us learn? How might skills of active listening make space for courageous conversations?

Understanding Privilege

We often say we are “blessed” or “fortunate," but do we really know how much? Let's look at our place within a historical context and contemporary systems and structures. How can we expand our self-awareness and use any advantages we may have for good?

Confronting Prejudice

How should we respond to discrimination when we encounter it? How do we respectfully correct misinformation or stereotypes we may hear at home, school or work? How can we counteract biases, from xenophobia to homophobia? What does it mean to be a good ally or upstander?

Challenging Separation

The demographic maps are clear: we sort ourselves geographically and socially based on race & class. Where we live and spend our time can inflame polarization and harm social mobility. How can we become more proximate to people with different lived experiences? How can we disrupt patterns of segregation for greater diversity & inclusion?

Paying it Forward

How does our spending and giving align with our values? How can we be more conscientious investors and consumers? How can we share resources for the common good? Let's talk about ways we can each be a part of creating a more inclusive economy.