The first event in the series features Dr. Elizabeth Parks, who will give a free, virtual presentation on March 11, 2021. The topic of her talk is “Listening Differently: Creating Space for Sustainable Collaboration.” Register here.

Dr. Parks will discuss what it takes to build collaborative relationships where we truly try to understand each other through listening, especially among people who have very different backgrounds or values. How can we build dialogue that promotes enduring connection that shows care and genuine curiosity and moves our shared work forward? In this presentation, Parks offers a model for sustainable dialogue marked by expanding our understanding of what listening is, what different listening styles we might adopt, and how expanding our listening toolkit can help foster organizational and stakeholder interactions that meet our shared goals.

Before her talk, Parks has two one-page listening self-assessments (download both at the bottom of this page) that attendees are encouraged to complete. These self-assessments will deepen the conversation and possibly help improve your own listening.

About the Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Parks
Elizabeth S. Parks (Ph.D., University of Washington) is an assistant professor of communication studies at Colorado State University, the dialogue and diversity specialist for the Center for Public Deliberation and adjunct faculty with the Colorado School of Public Health. Her scholarship blends social scientific and humanistic methods to better understand how we can improve listening and dialogue across difference in ways that contribute to individual and community well-being.

Listen to Elizabeth Parks talk about Learning to Listen on KUNC’sColorado Edition.
Check out The Ethics of Listening: Creating Space for Sustainable Dialogue at Bud Werner Memorial Library.
Buy The Ethics of Listening: Creating Space for Sustainable Dialogue from Off the Beaten Path Bookstore.

Listening Self-Assessment downloads
HURIER Self Assessment
Listening Styles Self Assessment

About the Sustainability Speaker Series
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs and Bud Werner Memorial Library are partnering to present the Sustainability Speaker Series. This ongoing series seeks to connect our community with timely insights, research and actions that inform and inspire how we build our sustainable Yampa Valley futures. The Series and discussion topics advance an integrated approach to social, economic, educational and environmental dimensions of sustainability challenges that lead toward collective solutions.