Talking through disagreements isn't easy -- but with the right approach, tough conversations can build understanding and spark change. As we head into the holiday season, we want to help you feel equipped to talk to friends and family about important issues. That's why we put together a downloadable guide with tips, to help you navigate these conversations with confidence.

Download the Guide
[link removed]

Dear Friend,

As we head into a season filled with family gatherings, community events, or reunions with old friends, many of us are bracing for conversations about our environment, democracy, politics, and other potentially challenging topics. These conversations are difficult because they touch our deepest values, our identities, and our hopes for the future. If you feel a mix of dread and determination, you're in good company.

The work we do as environmental advocates and justice seekers is rooted in what we love and what we believe in. That's why these conversations can feel so emotionally charged... because they matter. 

Each of us has tremendous power at our fingertips: every conversation we have with a loved one can make a real difference. Each person that we talk to is more likely to get involved or take action and can subsequently reach out to their network, kicking off a chain of change.

When we meet someone whose beliefs sit in direct tension with our own, it can feel high-stakes for everyone involved. This is especially true these days. There's a lot of disinformation out there, propagated by billionaires and corporations who want to intentionally mislead people on issues that we all care about (like climate change, or offshore wind power). But here's something grounding: beneath the disinformation and the polarized debates, we share far more as humans than we often realize. 

Difficult conversations can unsettle us. And sometimes it just doesn't make sense to engage with someone who isn't open to listening. But they can also shift hearts, open minds, and build unexpected bridges. So how do we engage in them in a way that's strategic? Download our guide with tips for having difficult conversations, and questions to keep in mind.

Download the Guide
[link removed]

Over the past month, we held two webinars talking about this exact topic. We trained over a thousand people on using the tips in this downloadable guide. Remember that we have more common ground than the headlines suggest.

As you head into conversations this season, online or face to face, remember: you're not alone, you're capable, and you're part of a community that believes in engaging with care, curiosity, and compassion.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Sierra Club

P.S. If you're interested, watch a recording of our October training on how to talk about difficult issues with friends and family. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUeVEaXY_Us


--- 
Please consider making a donation to support the Sierra Club Foundation's vital work. Your gift will give us the resources we need to fight for our shared public lands, hold our leaders accountable, and ensure a brighter, sustainable future for all.

DONATE
[link removed]



----------------------------------------
This email was sent to: [email protected]

This email was sent by the Sierra Club
2101 Webster St., Suite 1300 Oakland, CA 94612

Unsubscribe : [link removed]

Manage Preferences: [link removed]

View as Web Page: [link removed]