Upcoming Events
One Small Step: Skills to bridge the political divide
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Butterfield Library in Westminster, VT
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/one-small-step-in-westminster-skills-to-bridge-the-political-divide-tickets-
Vermont Public is taking the principles of StoryCorps’ One Small Step on the road in 2025 and partnering with Compassionate Brattleboro and Westminster Inclusion Committee for an event at the Butterfield Library in Westminster.
Join us for this free event and learn how to bridge the political divide by guiding people through conversations that seek common ground, and elevate the humanity in one another.
We’ll start the evening with pizza; then following the One Small Step training we will pair up attendees for short conversations to practice what you’ve learned. We hope you will walk away with the skills to have more productive conversations.
One Small Step brings people with different views together to record a conversation — not to debate politics — but simply to get to know each other as people. The initiative hopes to combat the polarizing effects of news and social media just by talking to each other one-on-one again. Because when we approach each other with curiosity, we realize we have more in common than we think.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 5:30-7pm
Butterfield Library in Westminster, VT
Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/one-small-step-in-westminster-skills-to-bridge-the-political-divide-tickets-
Vermont Public is taking the principles of StoryCorps’ One Small Step on the road in 2025 and partnering with Compassionate Brattleboro and Westminster Inclusion Committee for an event at the Butterfield Library in Westminster.
Join us for this free event and learn how to bridge the political divide by guiding people through conversations that seek common ground, and elevate the humanity in one another.
We’ll start the evening with pizza; then following the One Small Step training we will pair up attendees for short conversations to practice what you’ve learned. We hope you will walk away with the skills to have more productive conversations.
One Small Step brings people with different views together to record a conversation — not to debate politics — but simply to get to know each other as people. The initiative hopes to combat the polarizing effects of news and social media just by talking to each other one-on-one again. Because when we approach each other with curiosity, we realize we have more in common than we think.
Past Events
Compassion Conversation: How Do We Feel About Homelessness?
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
Following up on the May 15th “Safety and Happiness” program, Meg Mott and moderator Paul Rodrigue offer this opportunity to explore our complicated feelings about homelessness. We want to be compassionate, but what does that mean? Do certain people deserve our compassion more than others? If we understand compassion to be the wish for the reduction of suffering, how do we know what the path to less suffering involves? What if the alleviation of today’s suffering binds a person to more serious long-term suffering? Critical to this effort will be a proper understanding of what compassion involves.
Co-sponsored by Compassionate Brattleboro and Windham World Affairs with support from Vermont Humanities as part of the America at 250 series.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
Following up on the May 15th “Safety and Happiness” program, Meg Mott and moderator Paul Rodrigue offer this opportunity to explore our complicated feelings about homelessness. We want to be compassionate, but what does that mean? Do certain people deserve our compassion more than others? If we understand compassion to be the wish for the reduction of suffering, how do we know what the path to less suffering involves? What if the alleviation of today’s suffering binds a person to more serious long-term suffering? Critical to this effort will be a proper understanding of what compassion involves.
Co-sponsored by Compassionate Brattleboro and Windham World Affairs with support from Vermont Humanities as part of the America at 250 series.
Compassion Conversation: Are Bans on Encampments of Unhoused People Unconstitutional?
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
In 2018, a three-judge panel in the 9th Circuit ruled that “the Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of criminal penalties for sitting, sleeping or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter.” With that ruling, Western states could only remove people who camp on public lands when there were beds in public shelters. A class action suit from a group of individuals who were unhoused in Grants Pass, Oregon brought suit against the city for violating their constitutional rights. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, Johnson v. City of Grants Pass, this term.
This Town Hall considers the best arguments for and against the rights of persons who are unhoused to sleep in public places. Should all cities be restricted from enforcing no-camping ordinances in public parks? Do encampments injure residents who depend on access to green spaces? Does the 8th Amendment even pertain to this situation? Participants will have a chance to explore this complex issue with their neighbors and in the company of the Constitution, led by scholar Meg Mott.
A follow-up Community Discussion of this topic will be moderated by Paul Rodrigue on May 22nd from 6:00-7:30 pm.
Sponsored by Windham World Affairs Council, Vermont Humanities and Compassionate Brattleboro as part of the Part of the 250th Commemoration of the United States.
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 6:30-8pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
In 2018, a three-judge panel in the 9th Circuit ruled that “the Eighth Amendment prohibits the imposition of criminal penalties for sitting, sleeping or lying outside on public property for homeless individuals who cannot obtain shelter.” With that ruling, Western states could only remove people who camp on public lands when there were beds in public shelters. A class action suit from a group of individuals who were unhoused in Grants Pass, Oregon brought suit against the city for violating their constitutional rights. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, Johnson v. City of Grants Pass, this term.
This Town Hall considers the best arguments for and against the rights of persons who are unhoused to sleep in public places. Should all cities be restricted from enforcing no-camping ordinances in public parks? Do encampments injure residents who depend on access to green spaces? Does the 8th Amendment even pertain to this situation? Participants will have a chance to explore this complex issue with their neighbors and in the company of the Constitution, led by scholar Meg Mott.
A follow-up Community Discussion of this topic will be moderated by Paul Rodrigue on May 22nd from 6:00-7:30 pm.
Sponsored by Windham World Affairs Council, Vermont Humanities and Compassionate Brattleboro as part of the Part of the 250th Commemoration of the United States.
Compassion Conversation: Could Brattleboro Become a Blue Zone?
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
Communities have been identified around the world where individuals not only live longer, but appear to have an enhanced sense of purpose and connection. Several other communities have sought to emulate the example. Could Brattleboro? Join the conversation with panelists: Kate Anderson and Mary Lindquist with moderator: Jim Levinson
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 6-7:30pm
Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT
Communities have been identified around the world where individuals not only live longer, but appear to have an enhanced sense of purpose and connection. Several other communities have sought to emulate the example. Could Brattleboro? Join the conversation with panelists: Kate Anderson and Mary Lindquist with moderator: Jim Levinson
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Compassion Conversation: Compassion and Non-Human Animals
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 6-7:30pm Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, VT Compassionate Brattleboro's Compassion Conversation on Non-Human Animals will be on Wednesday, March 6th at 6pm (snow date Tuesday, March 19th) in Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro. Panelists will include pattrice jones of VINE Sanctuary, Dr. Sue Kelly of Spruce Mountain Veterinary Acupuncture, Lisa Jablow of Protect Our Wildlife, and Bella O'Connor of Vermont Law School. This event is co-sponsored by the Windham County Humane Society. Panelists will discuss a wide range of issues--from farming to the law to hunting--related to the idea of compassion and non-human animals and how compassion might play a role in our everyday lives. There will be time for questions and conversation with the audience. |