Page 394 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

emotional exchange between participants in reaction to their reaction claims that the White male’s

comments came across as insensitive and arrogant. The facilitator was purposeful about revisiting

the tension creating comments during the next dialogue session, thereby allowing participants to

reconsider their positions and statements from the prior week and alter or change perspectives and

points of view. In this example, sustaining the conversation allowed for opening the dialogue space

to revisit the tension in a manner that was intentional to facilitate a necessary unpacking of

comments and feelings that remained or surfaced during the intervening period between the

dialogue gatherings.

The act of sustaining the dialogue from one week to the next, provided continuity and a

connecting or bridging of the tensions and disagreements, from the prior session in an open and

transparent manner. The act of revisiting also emphasized a valuing of the dialogue produced by

the initial dissent and the ensuing tension and disagreement. This technique reflected a healthy

approach and a bridging or carrying forward and linking of events that occurred from one dialogue

session to the next was entrusted to the groups. Finally, the act of revisiting, rather than ignoring

or turning away from the conflict, by the lead facilitator, confirmed and welcomed difficult

conversation and discourse among the participants and set a healthy tone for the CC to continue.

According to the 2010 census, the racial composition of Albany NY was 93% white, 3%

African American, 1% Asian, 0.3% Native American and Native Alaskan, and 3% two or more

races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race account for 2% of the population. The non-Hispanic white

population was 52%. However, due to the locations where the Community Conversations were

held, the composition average of the dialogue groups, including the attendees and facilitators, who

were predominantly female and racially mixed, with the number of minorities, primarily African

Americans far exceeded the number of White participants and created an environment for non-

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