Methodology
Can you imagine a world without conversations? We can't! Even though sometimes conversations can seem like a routine part of everyday life, they are truly one of our most powerful tools.
How it works
The public conversations organized by the University of the Streets Café are slightly more structured than those you might share with your family, co-workers or friends, but the underlying idea is the same: A group of interested and open-minded people coming together to talk.
On a regular basis during the fall and winter terms, we meet in cafés and community spaces around Montreal. Our events, which are always two hours in length, are organized around a question that encourages us to dig into a particular theme, issue or current event. Conversations are hosted by a volunteer moderator who is there to welcome everyone and keep things on track.
To get things started, there’s a guest, or sometimes two, who get the ball rolling by sharing their ideas, experiences and questions. After that, it's all up to the participants. Whether they share a personal experience, a researched opinion, or a half-formed thought – or even if they prefer to simply listen – it’s the people in the room who really bring these participatory events to life.
Together, we engage with complex topics and we never know exactly where things will go or what we might learn. No matter what, an enlightening and evocative public conversation is sure to ensue!
Core beliefs
- It’s ok to start simple. We accept that it’s impossible to cover everything in a 2 hour conversation and believe that the intelligence of the group always brings the conversation where it needs to go.
- Public conversations cannot be all things to all people. These events do not seek to cover all views, nor do they attempt to resolve complex problems in a single night.
- Experience matters just as much as expertise. The most successful conversations are a blend of both, making the space feel intimate and memorable, but also educational.
- Safe and inclusive spaces are created, not stated. We do our best to create respectful spaces and include everyone but we know that a) conversations are still public and b) people will always be excluded by virtue of topic, language, venue, outreach, etc.
- Technology stunts participation. The use of microphones, power point presentations and recording devices of any kind inhibits participation and changes the dynamic of a conversation. Instead our events emphasize the value of real-time, face-to-face interactions.
- Each person participates differently. We encourage our participants to share the space by being mindful of their speaking time and we try to make room for our shyer participants, but we never force anyone to speak. Listening is an equally important part of any conversation.
