The non-profit Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center hosts a free talk on May 16 as part of their “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace” Brown Bag Lunch Series. Talks are Third Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 pm via Zoom.

This month’s speaker is Paula Thomas on the topic "Elevate the Conversation: Who Can? You Can!”

"We enter into conversations for many reasons--to share, advise, educate, reprimand, gossip, persuade, defend, and more," says Thomas. "When emotions get triggered, anger rises. When we feel challenged or disrespected, listening stops. An easy flow of chatter can turn into a defensive posture or unexpected battle."

In this talk, learn some ways to shift a conversation that turns from fun to fraught, from talkative to tense.

Ku‘ikahi’s Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and connect with others interested in “Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.”cut and paste body of PR (do not include bio or contact info).