We live in an increasingly divided society. Contentious issues, and topics that were never controversial before, are fueling divisions in our schools, workplaces, houses of worship, community groups, and even our own families. Consequently, we feel a growing sense of isolation, separated from our neighbors, coworkers, and people we called friends. And yet belonging and connection are some of our most fundamental human needs. The National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) is committed to helping individuals build belonging in these divided times. During this session, NCRC facilitators will lead attendees in an exploration of some core concepts for building belonging, including:
• What does it mean to have a sense of belonging? What does it look and feel like when we have a strong sense of belonging?
• Intergenerational differences can lead to misunderstanding and create divisions. How can we harness the strengths and diversity of people across ages to create a deeper sense of belonging?
• Words are powerful and how we speak to one another can either erect barriers or invite people into conversation. How do the specific words and phrases that we use (or avoid) signal our openness to engage with people who have different viewpoints?
• How do we actually create belonging? What have been your experiences of successfully building belonging? What are other proven approaches for strengthening connections between people, even across some of our most challenging divides?
We invite you to join us for this important conversation about practically building belonging. It’s something we all need, now more than ever.

Participants will be able to:
1. Develop strategies to create belonging;
2. Identify words and phrases that indicate conversational receptiveness; and
3. Describe the strengths of individuals from different generations