What we’re about
Civil, respectful conversation with people with different political views?
Yes, it is possible. We’re doing it and you can, too.
Crossing Party Lines is YOUR brave space to meet and talk with people you disagree with and may not even understand. You might even have fun!
Our events include:
- DISCUSSIONS: We meet as small groups where you can talk to real people about the issues that divide us. Share your unique insights, encounter new perspectives and new ways of looking at the world, and experience what it's like to feel heard and understood.
You'll find that it is possible to disagree in a way that leaves you feeling true to yourself and your beliefs without losing your friends or your cool.
- WORKSHOPS: We teach the skills you need to effectively talk across differences. You will learn ways to foster curiosity and invite listening, acquire strategies for overcoming common communication barriers, and develop the confidence to talk politics with people you know, live, and work with.
- COMMUNITY EVENTS: We’re not just about talking – we’re also about community. We host game nights, screen videos, share books, and offer many other ways of connecting across differences.
At all events, trained facilitators set the tone of the discussion and help the group build trust. Come see what civil, respectful conversation is like. Who knows, you might make friends with someone you disagree with!
More about Crossing Party Lines:
We are a national nonprofit with chapters in eight states. Because we believe that the success of America’s unique democracy relies on the diversity of our viewpoints, we encourage people of all political views and parties to join and participate.
Come learn, explore, practice, and grow with us. Join this grassroots movement and become the change in your community.
Note: Due to COVID, most of our events are online. Unless otherwise stated, events are open to all Crossing Party Lines chapters, giving you a chance to interact with people from all over the country.
Sponsors
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Crossing Party LinesOur national parent organization
Cinema Arts CenterCinema Arts Centre (CAC) partnering with CPL to bring events to you!- Crossing Party LinesOur national parent organization
- Cinema Arts CenterCinema Arts Centre (CAC) partnering with CPL to bring events to you!
- Crossing Party LinesOur national parent organization
- Cinema Arts CenterCinema Arts Centre (CAC) partnering with CPL to bring events to you!
Upcoming events (2)
See all- Network event21 attendees from 11 groups hostingWorkshop: Talking PoliticsLink visible for attendees
Workshop: Talking Politics
You’ve got your views and they make sense to you. But when you go to share them with other people what happens? Do they get defensive? Shut you down? Tell you why you are wrong and they are right?
In CPL 101 we'll share the secrets of Talking Politics in a way that invites others to listen rather than dares them to defend against your ideas or shut you down.**************************************************************************
Attendees: Before the meeting, please download and print the handouts, which are located on this page:[ https://crossingpartylines.com/cpl-101-talking-politics/](https://crossingpartylines.com/cpl-101-talking-politics/)************************Workshop Description**************************
Talking politics refers to sharing your views in a way that supports dialogue instead of debate. Rather than the typical political speak we hear in the media and debates that is all about telling others how they should think, CPL’s approach to talking politics provides insight into why your political views make sense to you; it promotes curiosity, respect and connection and helps others understand how their views and yours can coexist without either of you being wrong or immoral.
But it is not easy, because we’re conditioned to defend our point of view rather than share it or share about ourselves. In this meetup we will practice skills that enable us to speak across our differences in a way that moves us all forward and deepens our understanding of where our views come from. We will explore strategies for overcoming communication barriers, and we will practice productive civil discourse.
There are no prerequisites for this workshop. All are welcome.ABOUT CPL Workshops
Get the training you need to effectively cross party lines.
Crossing Party Lines provides a series of FREE classes teaching the skills we use to talk across differences. We teach proven, science-based techniques to foster curiosity, invite listening, and connect across differences.We designed these techniques based on recent discoveries in such fields as cognitive science, neurobiology, and evolutionary psychology. Because understanding the partisan brain is central to the work of Crossing Party Lines, our workshops cover both the skills and some of the basic science behind them.
Please do your best to arrive at the beginning of the workshop – once we into the meat of the workshop, the meeting doors close to new arrivals. The breakout rooms open (and the doors close) approximately 15 minutes after the hour.
We would love to hear your thoughts on our social media pages. Don't miss topic announcements, updates, news!
Follow us on:
- Instagram @crossingpartylines
- Twitter @crosspartyline
- Facebook @crossingpartylines
Past events (198)
See all- Network event29 attendees from 11 groups hostingFrom Lockdowns to Liberty: How Did the Pandemic Reshape Us?The COVID-19 pandemicThis event has passed
