Listening Project

During the summer and fall of 2017,  we interviewed 26 leading thinkers, innovators, funders, and practitioners in the conflict transformation arena. We asked these experts – primarily in small group video conferences – the same set of carefully crafted questions. We also had less formal conversations with a dozen other experts and progressive movement leaders, covering similar topics. Interviewees included mediators, facilitators, authors, trainers, community organizers, journalists, faith based leaders, academics, researchers and activists. One of our aims was to identify the best tools, methods and learning environments for developing conflict literacy. We also wanted to get a clear picture of the opportunities and challenges we would face as we sought to increase conflict literacy in the US.

Listening Project Participants

We wish to acknowledge and appreciate the following participants in our Listening Project, whose wisdom and work in the world continue to be a source of inspiration. Some participants have become ongoing collaborators and informal advisors. The Listening Project participants helped us identify the best strategies for increasing conflict literacy for the general public in the United States. This was before we honed our mission to focus on progressive movements. Their contributions are reflected in the Core Competencies of Conflict Literacy. Participation in the Listening Project does not imply an endorsement of CTF’s current mission and focus.

What We Heard

Bringing a diversity of perspectives and experiences, each participant contributed key ideas and insights that we distilled into Ten Core Competencies of Conflict Literacy.

We heard about what’s working (bright spots) and what’s not (cautions). People shared about the best learning environments (in person, with lots of opportunity for practice) and about the limitations of online learning. We also collected dozens of ideas for how to fund and support conflict literacy efforts.

See a brief summary of all of the Listening Project Highlights ›