Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue). Social 10:45am – 11:00am.
People are becoming more polarized in many places, and a number of countries are backsliding into authoritarianism. This talk will explore a few of the key factors at play when hate and polarization rise, and share stories of successful grassroots campaigns to turn the tide. Drawing together findings from fields like neuroscience, social psychology, and behavioural economics, the talk will offer practical tips anyone can take home and start using right away. Our featured speaker, Matthew Legge, will base this talk on his book Are We Done Fighting? Building Understanding in a World of Hate and Division (New Society Publishers, 2019).
Matthew Legge loves exploring the evidence and sharing interesting stories. He’s particularly passionate about making communication honest, simple, and accessible.
Matthew has worked in the non-profit sector for the last 13 years, with a focus on building health, dignity, and human rights. He has supported locally-led peace initiatives in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He has served as a volunteer, consultant, board member, and full-time staff member.
Since 2012, Matthew has worked for Canadian Friends Service Committee (CFSC), the peace and social justice agency of Quakers in Canada. Quakers are widely respected for their efforts to prevent war and transform conflicts, as well as their impartial support for war victims.
As CFSC’s Peace Program Coordinator, Matthew has had the opportunity to learn from Quakers across Canada and in the US, Europe, and Africa. Are We Done Fighting? is written for a general audience as part of Matthew’s work for CFSC, and proceeds go toward CFSC’s peace and justice work.
Matthew’s fascination with how diverse cultures organize themselves to address different challenges led him to get a degree in Anthropology from the University of Toronto. He served for six years on the board of directors of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation. This is his first book. He writes the popular blog Are We Done Fighting? for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/are-we-done-fighting.
Our guest musician will be Kid Grit. Kid Grit’s folk songs are quiet and pensive reflections of a life lived. From the depths of isolation possible in a digital age, to the heights of exaltation, living and growing up in nature. His music travels through the processes of life and how we heal, through gentle whisperings, swelling warm harmonies, and sometimes painful personal admissions – attempting to find peace and truth in the smallest of things.
Richard Dowsett will do the Community Moment. The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves. It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy. Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community. Interested in presenting your own Community Moment? Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.
You can RSVP for this on our Meetup page at:
https://www.meetup.com/Toronto-Oasis/events/khgwkrybccbqb/