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Productive Dialogue in Polarized Times: Effective Persuasion

Productive Dialogue in Polarized Times: Effective Persuasion

For our February 15, 2026 member gathering, Dr. Bonnie Cleaveland led an excellent workshop. We had a huge turnout, with more than 45 participants filling the auditorium at the Main Public Library downtown.

Dr. Cleaveland’s presentation, Productive Dialogue in Polarized Times: Effective Persuasion, addressed a challenge many of us encounter regularly: how to have constructive conversations with people whose beliefs—about politics, media, or even basic facts—differ sharply from our own. Rather than offering platitudes, she grounded the discussion in psychological research and practical strategy.

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