On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, the Camden Rotary Club will host a community workshop in an effort to depolarize politics through the building of civil conversation skills. The workshop, “Skills for Bridging the Divide,” will be expertly facilitated by Building Bridges of Maine and Braver Angels, from 6 - 9 p.m., at the Camden Hills Regional High School Café. Dinner from American Flatbread will be provided.

Participants including community leaders, high school students, and other neighbors will learn and practice how to:

Understand and value the perspectives of others
Present their thoughts in a constructive, non-provoking way
Discover common ground
Exit a conversation that is not working 

This free event is part of the global Rotary effort to create energy and momentum for peaceful conflict resolution around the world.

“The Camden Rotary Club became a peacebuilder club in November 2020, the first of its kind in New England,” said the Rotary, in a news release.

‘We intentionally scheduled this event two days after Election Day because we value informed discourse, civic engagement, and community,” said Camden Rotary Club President Judith Tarbox. “In our community, there is more that binds us than divides us.”

Limited space is still available to the public. To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/2P8SDAZ9.

The Camden Rotary Club has served the community since 1925, raising funds to help local nonprofit organizations in Knox County and Lincolnville through an annual grants program. This year’s grant recipients included New Hope for Women, Coastal Opportunities, Cooking for Community’s Hunger and Economic Relief Project, St. George Community Development Corporation’s Community Cupboard, Sundog Outdoor Expeditions’ Midcoast Outdoor Leadership Initiative, and Bay Chamber Music School.

The club meets at First Congregational Church in Camden at noon on Tuesdays, with Zoom access available to those who wish it. All are welcome to attend. For online access, please write to Stephanie French at steph.griffinsg00@gmail.com.