Choose to be Curious Episode #36: Building Bridges with Vivek Patil
Sep 6, 2017
Vivek Patil, a County Board candidate and founder of Building Bridges, champions the power of curiosity and active listening to foster community connections. He discusses the importance of meaningful conversations to break down barriers and combat polarization. Vivek shares his personal transformation journey, emphasizing how everyday experiences deepen awareness and empathy. He also explores the role of community engagement in driving innovation, focusing on Virginia's economy and the potential of grassroots advocacy to shape a collaborative future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Building Bridges Origin Story
- Vivek Patil shares how Building Bridges started as a way to truly listen to the Arlington community beyond brief political talks.
- It involves reaching out to diverse groups including politically different people to find common ground through listening.
Train for Difficult Conversations
- Approach conversations by acknowledging differences to create dialogue, then discover shared interests.
- Use structured exercises like Civiti to train people in having productive conversations across divides.
Curiosity Bridges Political Divides
- Building trust through curiosity conversations helps overcome political and cultural divides.
- People are more open to different ideas when they feel seen and understood personally.
