October is Conflict Resolution Month, activities, book
Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado began in 2007 as a local initiative inspired by the work started in 2005 by the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) in instituting Conflict Resolution Day. ConflictResolutionMonth–web site does not do events, but supports others throughout the state. Each Year ACR celebrates Conflict Resolution Day the third Thursday of October—This year it is October 21, 2021.
Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado encourages you to do it yourself. We have created a toolkit that can help you to build your own Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado event.
Click here for the Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado Event Toolkit
The Estes Park Library and Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership host a month-long series to promote collaborative problem-solving, civility, and meaningful conversations.
Colorado communities, especially Estes Park, are known for being pretty darn friendly. But what about when conflict emerges? How can we build skills and access resources to address conflict productively? How would this change our homes, workplaces, and communities? This is what Conflict Resolution Month is all about.
The Library, along with Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership, joins agencies and organizations across Colorado by participating in Conflict Resolution Month this October. Conflict Resolution Month is aimed at inspiring Coloradans to focus on solutions, and to focus our intentions by making deliberate choices in solving conflicts constructively.
Join us for themed programs in October and learn a few new conflict resolution skills.
The first two activities have passed, on learning to interact with folks we don’t know; and how to change our image of other.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
This year’s Conflict Resolution Month book title is The Power of Strangers: The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World and copies are available now at the Estes Valley Library. Author Joe Keohane will be hosting a virtual author talk on Thursday, October 20 where he will discuss what happens when we bridge the distance between us and people we don’t know, and how to deepen our sense of belonging. Keohane will dig into a growing body of cutting-edge research on the surprising social and psychological benefits that come from talking to strangers and share tips about how to root ourselves in this world of unknowns.
If you find yourself wanting more discourse about The Power of Strangers, join the book club on Monday, October 24. We’ll dive more into Keohane’s conclusions and continue to explore how strangers could actually be the solution to our most pressing political, social, and personal problems.
HOWDY STRANGER mini-events
Throughout the month, we’ll lighten up with some friendly conversation and local fun. Look for information on the Library website about “Howdy, Stranger!” events hosted at Estes Valley businesses. Bring a friend, meet new ones, and enjoy getting to know your community.
Looking for an activity to complete at your own pace? Check out the Talking to Strangers challenge. Get out of your comfort zone and meet some new folks — and you could win one of four $25 gift cards to a local business.
Let’s be inspired to participate in productive problem-solving in all aspects of our lives. Learn more about Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado.
