Deep listening update — July, 2022

Deep listening update — July, 2022

As you may know, our Alliance committed to undertaking a huge project this year in the form of a “deep listening campaign.” We are traveling around three Western Colorado counties, knocking on doors of residents typically shut out of the conversation, to get a feeling for the sorts of problems really bothering people, using a methodology which could help address some of the growing divides in our communities.

Last month, we conducted free deep listening training sessions in Grand Junction, Montrose, and Rifle, and have since begun implementing deep listening canvasses in Mesa, Montrose, and Garfield Counties. And what we’re finding on these outings is that people are extremely receptive. They want to talk.

You don’t have to have participated in last month’s training sessions in order to help out. We need more listeners! It’s easy, and you won’t be alone. If you think you might like to help on this important project, which will continue throughout the summer, then please contact one of these organizers today:

Montrose County

Bianca Diaz

Garfield County

Hanna Arauza

We’ll have a lot more to tell you about this process and what we’re learning over the next several weeks. We hope you’ll join us in this effort, which we expect to be a crucial part of our work going forward.

Who knew that you can learn so much if you just… listen?

About the author

Arn's career includes more than 35 years of experience in broadcast media, online advertising and branding in both Western Colorado and New York City. He is a four-time Colorado Broadcast Award winner and has also won multiple Colorado Press Association Awards. Arn also teaches Film Expression at the college level. He lives with a dramatic pit bull and a grandiose cat and enjoys painting, animating, and exploring cinema in his spare time.

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