Convene with Courage. Build Trust.
Build an Abundant Community.
For civic leaders, organizers, and dialogue facilitators, the Art of Convening® offers tools to foster trust and momentum across differences—helping communities shift from fear and fragmentation to belonging and abundance.
The Challenge
Community life today is too often marked by division, fear, and “not enough” thinking. And, too often, public forums surface problems but fail to spark solutions. Participation is low, conversations feel repetitive, and trust across differences feels harder than ever to build. Many convenors of local groups aren’t equipped with the tools they need to guide dialogue that heals divides and strengthens the fabric of civic life.
The Shift We Imagine
Now imagine gatherings where hospitality and generosity shape the tone of every conversation. Instead of being framed by scarcity, dialogues focus on gifts, strengths, and shared possibilities. Community members show up not as passive consumers—waiting for someone else to solve problems—but as citizens, offering their contributions and confronting one another with their gifts.
Picture what becomes possible when:
Every gathering helps heal divides and spark connection
Trust isn’t left to chance but is cultivated as a practiced outcome
Leadership is seen as a capacity available to many, not just the few
Conversations inspire collective action to build well-being where people live and work
How AoC Helps
The Art of Convening equips civic and community leaders to:
Design meeting norms and spaces that invite inclusive, generous dialogue
Foster trust across political, social, and generational divides
Shift narratives from scarcity to abundance
Move communities from listening sessions to aligned, collaborative action
With AoC, conveners rediscover themselves not as managers of conflict, but as builders of belonging and community well-being.
An Easy Way to Begin
The AoC Field Guide provides practical tips you can test in your next town hall, dialogue circle, or neighborhood gathering. These practices—starting with presence, ensuring every voice is heard, and closing with commitment—create the conditions for communities to reimagine themselves. From there, leaders often deepen their practice through AoC workshops, learning cohorts, or long-term civic partnerships.
Testimonial
“AoC showed me how to invite real participation—not just check the box.”