Edwin Rutsch & Terry Kyllo on Bridging, Empathy Circles and Occupy Empathy
Terry Kyllo is an ordained Lutheran pastor, author, and the Executive Director of Paths to Understanding, a Washington-based nonprofit dedicated to bridging social divides and countering dehumanization. With a career spanning over three decades in ministry, Kyllo has become a prominent interfaith leader recognized for his efforts to dismantle Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and white Christian supremacy through community-building initiatives like the Neighbors in Faith program and the Potluck Project.
Zoom Meeting Summary Quick recap
Edwin and Terry Kyllo, Paths to Understanding, discussed their respective approaches to empathy-based community building and conflict resolution. Edwin shared his development of empathy circles, starting with his work at Occupy Wall Street and later deploying the practice at public demonstrations, including political rallies where he facilitated conversations between opposing sides. Terry Kyllo described his organization's interfaith work focused on building relationships through shared human experiences rather than comparative religion discussions, including their "Let's Go Together" program and potluck projects.
They explored potential collaboration opportunities, with Edwin suggesting Terry Kyllo team could incorporate empathy circle practices into their community building work, particularly given the diverse population in Terry Kyllo region. The conversation concluded with both agreeing to think about branding and marketing approaches for public empathy initiatives, with Terry Kyllo offering to connect Edwin with his staff and share information about upcoming national civic renewal meetings.
Edwin and Terry Kyllo discussed their approaches to empathy and community building. Edwin shared his background in empathy work, including his development of empathy circles based on Carl Rogers' therapeutic approach and his experiences at Occupy Wall Street and political rallies. Terry Kyllo described his interfaith work and shared a practice called "mutual invitation" for creating more equitable conversations. They aligned on the importance of listening and relationship-building as core empathy practices, with Terry Kyllo noting that while he doesn't often use the word "empathy," his work fundamentally involves understanding and connecting with others across differences.
Edwin explained the process of empathy circles, describing how they work with 4-6 people in a circle with specific roles including a facilitator, speaker, and active listener. Terry Kyllo shared their organization's approach of focusing on human stories rather than comparative religion, and discussed their three-part event structure and plans for deeper storytelling with minoritized communities. Edwin proposed the idea of setting up an "Occupy Empathy" initiative with a tent in public spaces like the California State Capitol to encourage Republicans and Democrats to participate in empathy circles.
Edwin and Terry Kyllo discussed approaches to addressing political polarization, with Edwin proposing a petition for redress of grievance and emphasizing the importance of empathy circles. Terry Kyllo shared insights about the complex social situation and various existing initiatives, including PTU's involvement with the governors' associations' America's Potluck event and other structured conversation programs. They explored different methods for facilitating dialogue between opposing viewpoints, with Terry Kyllo noting the benefits and challenges of various approaches, including the importance of preparation and skill development for effective engagement.
Terry Kyllo discussed how their organization builds listening and storytelling skills through structured events and trained table facilitators. They explained their approach uses mutual invitation methods instead of circular rotations, and while they incorporate basic active listening techniques, they noted that their initial focus is on foundational skills for people who are new to these types of conversations. Terry Kyllo indicated they are expanding to include more advanced storytelling circles that will incorporate deeper active listening practices.
Terry Kyllo and Edwin discussed their work on empathy circles and community engagement. Edwin shared his experience using empathy circles at public events, including with conflicting groups like Proud Boys and Antifa. Terry Kyllo described his similar approach of using active listening and empathy practices in his work, including with diverse communities in the Valley. They discussed potential collaboration, including holding an empathy circle with Terry Kyllo staff and exploring branding options for Edwin's "Occupy empathy" initiative. Terry Kyllo offered to connect Edwin with the National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation network and invited him to upcoming national calls in the civic renewal field.