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The city of Livermore is partnering with Living Room Conversations to host a discussion on empathy on Aug. 31.
The conversation will be the library’s first “Living Room Conversation,” promoting communication and building relationships in the community. With the topic of empathy, participants share their experiences and understanding of what empathy means to them.
“During these challenging times, it feels like people are more divided than ever. The power of empathy can bridge ‘us vs. them’ perceptions, helping us recognize our shared human needs and oneness,” librarian Paul Sevilla said.
Established in 2010, Living Room Conversations is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging divides through conversation, encouraging members of the community to understand and respect each other’s differences in opinions and promote collaboration.
The organization has utilized the increased popularity of videoconferencing technology to promote connections within the community by setting up and facilitating virtual conversations. They provide more than 100 topic guides for community discussions including on race, politics, culture and more.
The Livermore Public Library will host its discussion on empathy on Aug. 31 from 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The conversation will be facilitated by Sevilla and will follow the guide provided by Living Room Conversations.
First, participants introduce themselves and establish agreements on conversation then move on to question rounds on the topic. The question rounds include three rounds: getting to know each other, exploring the topic of empathy, and reflection on conversation.
“It is my hope that participants will have a positive time listening and sharing. Nowadays, it seems difficult to find the time and safe space to have a conversation on meaningful topics such as empathy,” Sevilla said.
“The purpose of Living Room Conversations is to offer that opportunity for individuals to come together and share experiences and ideas. I hope that participants will leave this conversation feeling better connected with one another,” he added.
To register, participants can call 925-373-5505. Limited spaces are available with registration close to being full. Participants will receive the Zoom link a few days before the event.
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