One could argue that our country has never been more divided. From social media threads to discussions over family dinners, ideological differences often create rifts through incivility and misunderstanding. But what if we had the tools to engage differently with each other, and have better outcomes? In my talk, I’ll share research, stories, and communication tools that show how the seeds of change can be planted through a curious mind and an empathetic heart. 

INUUC member Dr. Rachelle Strawther (Rachelle) is passionate about courageous, compassionate communication – something she “inherently sucks at,” and therefore has spent a lot of time and energy to improve. Her life journey has taken her to Ethiopia (where she taught English for a year while living with Salesian Sisters) and to Kenya (where she spent eight years engaging in grassroots community development programs). From 2013 to 2020, she designed and taught leadership courses at Gonzaga University; in her new role as founding Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning, her mission is to create professional development and personal enrichment programs that can benefit people from all socioeconomic backgrounds in Spokane. Her guiding leadership mantra can be encapsulated in this African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

A former Catholic, Rachelle was formally introduced to Unitarian Universalism in 2013 and found a community of like-minded people whom she had sought out her entire life. She lives in Spokane with her husband Dave, her daughter Sophia, Dave’s two children, Jaea and Eli, and their dog, Darwin.