The third season of Dialogues on Homelessness kicks off Saturday, Oct. 17, at the downtown Madison Public Library, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. It is free and open to everyone.
The eight-month series - meeting one Saturday each month - is aimed at bringing people from all walks of life together to talk about homelessness, share stories and build community.
"This is very much about process," says organizer Donna Asif. "There have been tangibles that have come out of this, but it's really about relationships and community. Dialogue is listening without judgment."
The sessions are shaped by the people who attend, but focus largely on storytelling techniques. One method uses photo mapping and GPS to show connections between people.
Results are hard to measure, but Asif says, "I know that people who had passed each other for years and had never acknowledged each other began to exchange greetings and see each other as neighbors."
