The locals in Owensboro are seeing the value of making time to share common ideas, perspectives, and values
by Chad M. Gesser

So where is Owensboro? We are a community of about 100,000 situated on the Ohio River, about 150 miles west of Louisville. Owensboro is fortunate to have several organizations and groups interested in promoting civic dialogue, deliberation, and participation in community life. We began our local Conversation Café initiative in February of 2003. Since that time, we have conducted a little over 30 separate Conversation Café events. Our Cafés typically draw local civic and elected leaders to engage in dialogue and discussion about issues ranging from international development to local government merger. We usually establish a suggested topic for each event.

The local Conversation Café initiative began after I recognized a common theme in the sociology classes that I teach here at the Owensboro Community and Technical College. Semester after semester I found myself telling students that they should take advantage of their classroom experience, given this (the classroom) was their only opportunity as an adult in the community to truly engage with others and to share viewpoints on a variety of social issues in a safe environment. With the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the deep sadness in my soul that remained in its aftermath some fourteen months later, I came across the Conversation Café process. I recognized this process as just what our community needed to bring folks together, to serve as a link between individuals and the community, and to provide a safe manner to address pertinent local social issues.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the work that has preceded the local Conversation Café initiative. Owensboro is also fortunate to have several local groups working to improve civic dialogue and public living (for example, Community Conversations and the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro). My work with these groups fostered the beginning and has promoted the continuation of our local Café initiative. Members of these organizations have been my support and have graciously provided their knowledge and experience to me. Our relationships played a very important role in my development of the local effort.

Until recently, Keith Sanders, Bob Darling, and myself have hosted our local Conversation Cafés. Facilitating the Cafés has been nothing but a joy for me. I teach sociology here at Owensboro Community and Technical College, and I’m the Coordinator for Institutional Research. The highlight for me was March 2003. At that particular Café the topic of discussion was the potential War in Iraq. We had retired military veterans, males and females, young and old, Democrats and Republicans, and those for the war and those against the war. The same evening public demonstrations were held in Owensboro, with pro war and anti war factions pitted against each other at a major intersection in the center of our city. While they yelled and surely felt the “opposition” was at odds with their feelings, their perceptions, and their values, we sat at tables at a local bookstore and listened, and shared with others our deep love and vision for our country and the fate of citizens throughout the world. We were able to establish a common ground, and realized that while each of us had different opinions regarding the then potential for war, we all held the same desire to help others live safe, free, and meaningful lives.

The local Conversation Café initiative has been well received as a safe and engaging process. Just as in most communities in our country, individuals in Owensboro have a tendency to live fast-paced lives that sometimes become drained due to a lack of relationships and community bonds. In Owensboro, the Conversation Café process allows folks to sit down, listen to others, and to be heard in a safe and inviting manner. Time and time again we witness the feelings of relief, comfort, and renewal that participants gain from their experiences with our Cafés. We continue to draw a diverse group of people (professionals, volunteers, males and females, young and old), and we continue to “be the news”. The locals are beginning to see the value of making time for themselves and others to share common ideas, perspectives, and values.

For more about the Conversation Café initiative in Owensboro, KY, visit us at http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/cgesser/ConversationCafe.

From the wonderful community of Owensboro, Kentucky,
Chad M. Gesser
[email protected]
Owensboro Community and Technical College