Navigating Divides and Polarization

Ugandan-born Canadian educator and best-selling author Irshad Manji's mission is to help heal political, racial, and cultural divides. She joins us for this AJA Lunchtime Live with lessons on how to discuss polarizing issues productively -- whether with people outside of or inside the animal protection movement. Irshad's Moral Courage College in NYC specializes in teaching how to communicate across differences, and Irshad KNOWS differences... She's written books about the reform of Islam that have gotten banned in several Muslim countries, she hosted and produced one of Canada's first LGBTQ+ television shows QT: QueerTelevision in the late 90s, and she was known for her fiery debate skills on shows like Real Time with Bill Maher and The O'Reilly Factor. In this AJA Lunchtime Live, we'll talk about: - how to reach people who disagree with you - why we need to resist being easily offended - 5 techniques in conversation to reduce defenses and build necessary bridges - what groups and organizations in the movement need to know to cultivate inclusion and diversity without division - dismantling "us against them" culture and alternatives to shaming and cancelling each other Join this gathering to learn how to be the solution rather than the problem in these divided times.