Skills to Help Youth Professionals Navigate Challenging Conversations with Teens, Colleagues, and People in Their Lives (LAPP Skills for Adults and Teens)
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In this time of polarization, when civil discourse is more elusive than ever, many of us avoid or dread conversations with those whose perspectives and opinions differ from our own. We worry that any attempts at discussions will devolve into arguments and acrimony. This is particularly challenging when it is happening between youth professionals and the teens they serve (and, of course between the teens themselves). We need more connection, compassion, empathy, and understanding. We can be the example!
This workshop builds skills in conversations when differences arise and helps reframe how one views the “other side” in the face of disagreements…including the social-cultural conflicts that are dividing our communities and our country. Participants will learn practical tools for navigating effective conversations with their teens, their colleagues, and in their own lives.
The workshop provides skills and practice for the following:
• How to become more aware of your own ‘inner polarizer’ in conversations
• How to disagree with others without demonizing, dismissing, or stereotyping large segments of the population or members of your community
• Listen to understand
• Speak in ways others will want to hear and be heard
• Affirm the importance of building relationships
• Feel safe to practice those skills
PLEASE NOTE: This highly interactive skills building workshop for youth professionals is designed as a conversational workshop with many small group conversations (in breakout rooms). It is not a lecture. Youth professionals will use practice topics to explore the concepts learned. This is a nationally recognized program that is delivered in a 90-minute time period. It is important that those who register for this webinar commit to the duration of the workshop.
Mary Thomas-Vallens
Mary Thomas-Vallens, a lifelong educator, has extensive experience in curriculum and staff development. Currently, she is a student teacher supervisor for Concordia University, Irvine. As a Braver Angel, she is now on the Moderator Training Team. She plans and co-facilitates the Monthly Moderator Forums. She’s leading the BA School Board-Education Network, and she’s co-chair of the Orange County-South Bay, CA Alliance. She loves engaging others in workshops and encouraging high schoolers to be “Braver Teens.”
Erica Hruby
Erica Hruby, M.A. is a Jewish educator with nearly 30-years of teaching, curriculum writing, and professional development experience in Jewish community, academic, and residential environments. Erica serves as Senior Manager, National Teen Education and Engagement at The Jewish Education Project. She is also the founder of Anchored Parenting, LLC where she serves as a parent educator and coach. Erica has an M.A. from Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology with a focus on children and adolescents. She lives on the West Coast of Florida with her high school sweetheart with whom she shares two adult daughters.
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- Teen Engagement
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Mensch-ify is an alternative learning program that is held twice a month for families with children in Pre-K to 6th grade. It is a developmentally appropriate program, built upon the parent-child co-learning experience, that combines stories, songs, art, movement, and play to provide families with the tools they need to live a Jewish life that works for them.
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Congregation Tifereth Israel (CTI), Glen Cove, NY. CTI learners and their families participate in hands-on experiential learning. The curriculum focuses on Jewish values learned through our stories (both modern and ancient).