Is your approach to public participation prepared to handle the emotional intensity of today’s polarized climate, or are you searching for more effective ways constructive conversations? The focus of this course is on de-escalating and shifting conflict and high emotion to constructive participation, where forward momentum and resolution are possible. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the state of conflict, and work with practical, tangible approaches to deescalate and transform challenges. Over the course, we will cover tools, strategies and ways of working to resolve polarized and emotional challenges.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Assess the state of conflict and emotion in the P2/engagement process, and create productive and constructive approaches

• Work with the stages of conflict escalation and apply the concepts of de-escalation

• Apply a variety of strategies to transform the conflict in P2/engagement

• Identify the impact of high emotion and apply a range of approaches to deescalate challenges

• Identify how to reduce conflict in situations of misinformation and dueling facts

• Apply the principles of storytelling to connect people to each other, increase understanding

  and reduce conflict

• Learn from mistakes and understand the role of failure in P2/engagement processes

• Identify and apply how to model integrity and behaviors that deescalate conflict

• Apply the strategies and tools to your own project or situation

This course consists of 4-4 hour virtual live sessions. Sessions will be held on October 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th from 1:00-5:00 ET / 12:00-4:00 CT / 11:00-3:00 MT / 10:00-2:00 PT.

Prerequisite Course Required: Participants must take Fundamentals of Public Participation prior to attending this course.