Events

A two-part graphic showing a NH Listens in-person event on the left and a NH Listens zoom event taking place on the right

Each year, NH Listens hosts events throughout New Hampshire. These online and in person events range from engaging on statewide policy issues, supporting local community-led initiatives, and our own series of workshops for strengthening skills for bridge builders — facilitation, connection across differences, and sticking with tough conversations. We support a growing network of New Hampshire's skilled facilitators.

We are grateful to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for their generous support.

Upcoming Events

June

07

NH Listens Local Lunch Box: When Someone Says WHAT?! Responding as a Facilitator

Join NH Listens for a 45-minute informative and interactive session aimed at sharing bite-sized tips and resources from our toolbox for community engagement and facilitation. This session address ...

View All NH Listens Events

Upcoming Facilitator Trainings

Prior to any online trainings, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding these trainings.

Nothing scheduled – Stay Tuned!

Upcoming Local Lunch Box Sessions

Prior to any online sessions, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding these sessions.

June - When Someone Says WHAT?! Responding as a Facilitator

June 7, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

This session will will address heart-racing facilitator moments and how to respond, so join NH Listens and others for a discussion on facilitating when emotions need our full attention.

Register for our June 7 Lunch Box Series

New Speaker Series

Local People, Local Work, Local Change

Navigating Life in a diverse democracy

New Hampshire Listens is excited to launch this new conversation series where we explore community engagement practitioners' journeys working with communities to generate meaningful change. This spring, we'll be hosting conversations around community engagement in education. Each speaker will bring a rich, varied approach to practices around diversity, inclusion, equity & justice (DEIJ), coalition building, and other transformative initiatives that promote an engaged, diverse democracy at the local level.

Each conversation will reflect and analyze the ways in which policy and practice around community engagement show up in day-to-day work. Attendees are encouraged to interact with speakers, engage with each other, and share insight on community engagement in your work and personal life.

Join us at our new location, at the New England Center, on campus or online. Refreshments will be available.

Andres Mejia, New Hampshire SAU 16

March 29, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Andres is currently serving as Director of Diversity, Equty, Inclusion, and Justice for the Exeter NH Cooperative School District. Prior to that, Andres worked at the University of New Hampshire spearheading support for underrepresented students, designing and facilitating learning exchanges, and helping leaders deepen and sustain their work on inclusion and belonging.

Register for the march 29 Conversation

Merle McGee, Everyday Democracy

April 26, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Merle is the President and CEO of Everyday Democracy. She brings over 25 years' experience in non-profit settings fighting alongside historically marginalized and excluded communities for dignity and racial, gender, and economic justice. Everyday Democracy has worked alongside more than 600 communities across 42 states on a wide range of issues including education, poverty, mental health, civic engagement, racism, youth and aging, immigration, and criminal justice reform.

Register for the April 26 Conversation

Dr. Manuela Heinz & Gerry Mac Ruairc

May 31, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Manuela Heinz is an Associate Professor and the Head of Discipline of Education at the University of Galway. She has worked in the area of initial and in-service teacher education for over 15 years and has led funded research and teaching projects in teacher education, teacher diversity and equity, intercultural and global citizenship education.

Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc is an established Professor of Education who has served as the Head of the School of Education at the University of Galway for seven years. Gerry has published widely in the areas of leadership for inclusive schooling, language and social class, literacy as well as in the areas of leadership and school improvement for equity and social justice.

Register for the May 31 Conversation

Building Bridges in the Human Family

Curious about the anti-black, anti-white divide? Want to discuss race and racism but are afraid to say the wrong thing or offend someone? Want to discuss how we can move on from our tragic past? Join us for a dialog series for people who genuinely want to listen. This will be a recurring online conversation from 4 to 5:30 pm on the following Sundays: March 19, April 16, May 21, and June 18. Feel free to join us for one or all sessions.

Register for the Conversations

NH Listens News

A photo of two New Hampshire Listens staff holding signs encouraging people to join Campus Listeners

NH Listens’ Campus Listeners Program to Train UNH Faculty, Staff & Graduate Students to Serve at Contentious On-Campus Events

Training for the Campus Listeners program is sponsored by the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy; the UNH Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity; and the UNH Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Freedom and Justice. Civic engagement group NH Listens – a part of the Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH – will host a training for its Campus Listeners program. The training will take...

Granite State News Collaborative: Manchester group takes village approach to community engagement

Michele Holt-Shannon

The Granite State News Collaborative recently covered the work of grassroots nonprofit Manchester Community Action Coalition and the importance this and similar organizations play at a community level. The news outlet interviewed Michele Holt-Shannon, co-founder and director of NH Listens, who shared how while grassroots organizations are critical to creating social change and often face a whole...

NH Public Radio: N.H. librarians learn how to lead community conversations that go beyond the book

Michele Holt-Shannon, NH Listens

New Hampshire Public Radio recently reported on a facilitator training offered by NH Listens to librarians located across New Hampshire. The training equips librarians with the tools they need to facilitate better community conversations in all kinds of contexts.

Facilitator Trainings (Online)

Basic Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
March 23, 2022, 12 – 2 p.m.

Join this 2-hour basic facilitator training for tips on facilitating that you can apply both on and offline. We’ll focus on sharing:

Some key facilitator concepts
Share a mix of tips and tools for using and managing technology
Tips for hosting and facilitating on and offline conversations
Provide time for small group reflections and practice
Ideas for keeping things interactive to engage people in and outside virtual spaces

We welcome anyone who wants to learn about facilitating conversations and those who want to strengthen their facilitator skills. This training is on Zoom and includes examples of how to use Google Slides to promote participant interaction. Please join on a computer if possible. There are some interactive components, but it is also possible to listen in. Prior to the session, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding this training.

Register for the March 23 Training

Advanced Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
April 22, 2022, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

This training is on Zoom and is focused on those difficult moments where people are in dialogue across significant differences – differences where stereotypes and misunderstanding are a major dynamic. Many of us are trained to remain “neutral” when we serve as facilitators. However, that doesn't mean we are passive in the face of misunderstandings and harmful dynamics. This workshop helps enhance confidence to remain neutral (on the topic), productively address issues, encourage and move conversation in a constructive manner.

Please join on a computer if possible. We understand everyone has different access to technology and welcome you! There are some interactive components, but it is also possible to listen in. Prior to the session, you'll want to download and test the Zoom software. Please contact Carrie Portrie with any questions regarding this training.

Register for the April 22 Training

Events

Upcoming Events

Local Civic Health

A Guide to Building Community and Briding Divides

Tuesday, march 14, 12 -12:30 pm

Upcoming Facilitator Trainings

Nothing scheduled – Stay Tuned!

February 8, 2023, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Advanced Facilitator Training (In-person)

April 6, 2023, 9:30 – 3:00 p.m. NH Audubon Massabesic Center auburn, NH

May 10, 2023, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Upcoming Local Lunch Box Sessions

April 5, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

May 3, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

June 7, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

Other Upcoming Events

OCTOBER 6, 6 – 8 p.m.

Nothing scheduled yet - stay tuned!

New Speaker Series

Local People, Local Work, Local Change

Navigating Life in a diverse democracy

Andres Mejia, New Hampshire SAU 16

March 29, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Merle McGee, Everyday Democracy

April 26, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Manuela Heinz & Gerry Mac Ruairc

May 31, 2023, 4 – 5:00 p.m.

Hampton community conversations

We share a community. We disagree at times. Where do we go from here?

A community conversation series for students, families, and educators in Hampton Sau 90

March 29, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

April 4, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

may 17, 2023, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Building Bridges in the Human Family

NH Listens News

Basic Facilitator Training (ONLINE) March 23, 2022, 12 – 2 p.m.

Nothing scheduled yet - stay tuned!

Advanced Facilitator Training (ONLINE) April 22, 2022, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Creating Group Agreements for Facilitating Across Differences Oct. 27, 12 – 12:30 p.m.

Nothing scheduled yet - stay tuned!

Local Civic Health

A Guide to Building Community and Briding Divides

Tuesday, march 14, 12 -12:30 pm

April 6, 2023, 9:30 – 3:00 p.m.
NH Audubon Massabesic Center
auburn, NH

Basic Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
March 23, 2022, 12 – 2 p.m.

Advanced Facilitator Training (ONLINE)
April 22, 2022, 12 – 2:30 p.m.

Creating Group Agreements for Facilitating Across Differences
Oct. 27, 12 – 12:30 p.m.