Rev. Zina Jacque
An initiative will launch in Barrington next month to bring people together to learn how to have discussions on issues surrounding race, privilege, bias and other difficult topics.
One of the organizers of “A Year of Courageous Conversations,” the Rev. Zina Jacque, said she’s found many have lost the capacity to respectfully disagree. Getting people in a room — and not using social media or other masks — is a way to foster understanding, said Jacque, pastor of Community Church of Barrington.
“How do we benefit from the wisdom and the thinking of a broad community if we are willing only to have conversations with like minds?” Jacque said. “So the gift of a community like this is that broad spectrum, but because of the fear of difference or the fear of offending, we’ve lost the willingness to have those cross-communications. And I think that’s what this (series) will teach us how to do.”
Another organizer, Jessica Swoyer Green of Barrington Hills, said the series will “explore and investigate what listening looks like.” The idea is to be courageous in listening, not just conversation, she said.
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