Listen First in Charlottesville
Presented by Bridge Alliance Education Fund
April 20–22, 2018
To support the continued healing and reconciliation in Charlottesville.
To inspire America toward mending our frayed social fabric by bridging divides with conversations that prioritize understanding.
Keynotes & Event Hosts
Rev. F. Willis Johnson - Ferguson pastor who stood for strength and love in the middle of protests
Christian Picciolini - Former white supremacist leader working to end the hate; Author, White American Youth
Andrea Copeland-Whitsett - Director of Member Education Services, Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Donna Brazile - Former Democratic National Committee Chair
Peter Yarrow - Singer, Peter, Paul and Mary
Michael Steele - Former Republican National Committee Chair and former Lt. Gov of Maryland
Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer - Executive Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse
Pearce Godwin - Founder, Listen First Project & Listen First Coalition
Debilyn Molineaux - Co-Director, Bridge Alliance & Managing Partner, Living Room Conversations
Conversation Hosts
Chuck Tyler - Political Director, SMART Politics & Charlottesville native (Host: Charlottesville's Historical Divisions and Fresh Wounds)
Charlene Green - Manager, Charlottesville Office of Human Rights (Host: Charlottesville Working to Heal and Progress)
Dr. Brian Williams - Trauma surgeon who treated the police officers killed in Dallas
(Host: A Nation Divided)
Sandy Heierbacher - Founding Director, National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
(Host: Bridging Divides Across America)
Conversation: Charlottesville's Historical Divisions and Fresh Wounds
Susan Bro - Mother of Heather Heyer who was killed during protests on August 12, 2017
Kathy Galvin - Charlottesville City Councilwoman
Bernard Whitsett, II - President and CEO, Legacy Asset Management Board
Andrew Baxter - Fire Chief, Charlottesville
Conversation: Charlottesville Working to Heal and Progress
Rabbi Tom Gutherz - Congregation Beth Israel
Antonio Rice - Development Director, Charlottesville Salvation Army
Sarah Kenny - Former President, UVA Student Council
Ryal Thomas - Owner, Ryal's Furniture
Remarks on Charlottesville
Allen Groves - Dean of Students, University of Virginia
Tom Walls - Executive Director, UVA's Sorensen Institute
Dr. Wes Bellamy - Charlottesville City Councilman
Jeff Lenert - Owner, WPVC 94.7
Joe Thomas - Radio Host, WCHV 107.5
Conversation: A Nation Divided
Cissie Graham Lynch - Global missionary, Member of President Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board
Renaldo Pearson - Organizer, Democracy Spring & Social Engineer in Residence, Harvard University
Matt Kibbe - Leader of Tea Party and Libertarian movements
Elizabeth (Liz) Hume - Senior Director for Programs and Strategy, Alliance for Peacebuilding
Conversation: Bridging Divides Across America
David Leaverton - Founder & President at Undivided Nation
David Blankenhorn - President, Better Angels
Hawk Newsome - President, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, spoke at pro-Trump rally that he was protesting
Liz Joyner - Executive Director, Village Square
Joseph Pinion - Founder, Conservative Color Coalition & CNN Contributor
Remarks on America
Graham Bodie, PhD - VP, Training, Listen First Project
John Gable - Founder & CEO, AllSides
Erin Leaverton - Co-Founder, Undivided Nation
John Sarapata - Head of Engineering, Jigsaw (formerly Google Ideas)
John Steiner - Vice President, Mediators Foundation
Katie Hyten - Director of Program Operations, Essential Partners
Dr. Karin Tamerius - Founder & Executive Director, SMART Politics
David Estrin - Founder & CEO, Together We Remember
John Rider - Chief Communications Officer, Bridge USA
Shannon Martinez -Regional Coordinator, Against Violent Extremism Network
Event Sponsors
Weekend Program
Friday, April 20th, 6pm, various locations
Village Square & Connect Cville Challenge invite you to host or attend diverse Charlottesville Dinners.
Friday, April 20th, 8:30pm, The Haven
Concert by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.
Saturday, April 21st, 1-5:30pm, Sprint Pavilion
Listen First Conversations which prioritize understanding among panels of local and national influencers as well as personal conversations amongst all attendees that both enhance understanding and spark ideas for action, followed by inspiring keynotes. Conversation topics include:
Charlottesville's Historical Divisions and Fresh Wounds
Charlottesville Working to Heal and Progress
A Nation Divided
Bridging Divides Across America
Sunday, April 22nd, Listen First partner events
Living Room Conversations, 9-10:45am, Homewood Suites
Structured small group conversations that promote stronger understanding and relationships across differences.
James Madison's Montpelier, 10am-12:30pm, Montpelier
A special tour of the award-winning exhibition, "The Mere Distinction of Colour," followed by a facilitated dialogue about race, history, and culture.
Playback Theatre Virginia, 11am-12pm, Live Arts
Audience generated true stories enacted by actors and musicians. A Fundraiser for Listen First Project.
Common Ground Committee, 1-3pm, The Haven
Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele in conversation on “Finding Common Ground on Government’s Role in Bridging Racial Divides.”
Americans Coming Together to #ListenFirst