We are excited to announce a new MelroseKind initiative: MelroseKind Community Conversations (MKCC). MKCC gathers individuals together for an evening of food, fun, and conversations about things that matter. The hope is that participants leave the gathering knowing each other a bit better than when the evening began.
The first phase of MKCC is a pilot program that introduces Reflective Structured Dialogue (RSD), a model designed to help facilitate conversations of the most contentious nature. By learning the model during the pilot, we make space to eventually dive into bigger topics that impact Melrose. Ultimately, the goal is to create connections across our differences.
The pilot includes five evenings (averaging one each month beginning in March). Each evening connects a unique group of community members in a small group setting. Our hope is have introduced 100 Melrosians to RSD over the course of the pilot.
The first several gatherings will take place at The Kitchen on Hurd Street in Melrose and will include twenty participants and four facilitators. The evening begins with food preparation and “breaking bread” together. Studies have shown that preparing a meal and eating together develops strong bonds among people.
The second half of the evening includes the facilitated conversation where participants get to know each other through RSD. The topic of each conversation is intentionally selected to foster a deeper understanding of each other.
If you would like to attend an MKCC event, please let us know! Doug DiBrielle, new to the MelroseKind team, but very experienced in facilitated conversations, is the lead of this initiative. We are honored to welcome Doug to our team and are excited to see MKCC grow and impact our community in positive ways.
