Digital Members Only: Active Listening for Allyship with Allison Goldberg of GoldJam

We’ve all seen and heard the countless affirmations that allies are listening and learning. But what does that really mean, and are any of us doing it right? In this course, we’ll review key skills such as acknowledging emotions and experiences, deferring judgment and defensiveness, and asking open-ended questions to learn more in necessary conversations. While this may seem simple, in the moment many of us tend towards jumping to conclusions, playing devil’s advocate, or attempting to make people feel better by explaining why something “isn’t as bad” as they think. These actions can even be well-intentioned, but intention isn’t the same as impact. This course will also look at how to use these skills to engage with antagonistic viewpoints, as allyship means taking on this work.