Why Dialogue?

Growing up in rural Oregon, I saw firsthand how breakdowns in constructive dialogue led to negative outcomes for everyday people. My small town’s economy evaporated in a generation, resulting in explosive distrust in state government and public institutions.

Later, as a first-generation college student at Cornell University, I felt a part of two worlds that felt irreconcilable. My two communities had no contact and no common language to connect across an increasingly widening cultural rift.

Dialogue simultaneously offers us a way forward and a way back home. It’s an opportunity to rediscover our shared purpose as neighbors, and imagine new futures in the face of rising rates of loneliness and despair.

My Background

I grew up in cowboy country. My great-grandparents had 14 children, eventually making me one of 114 grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the community. I was a proud member of both 4-H and FFA, and carry a passion for agriculture and feeding people to this day.

Growing up gay in a cattle-ranching family has given me the perspective necessary to walk the tightrope between “red” and “blue” value systems. I have a deep respect for conversations that don’t require anyone to shrink their genuine feelings or self-censor thoughts for fear of retribution.

My Approach

I believe the best dialogue education is a practical one. There is no amount of lectures, concepts, or boardroom policies that can replace the impact of real, face-to-face conversations between everyday people. As a result, I’ve spent thousands of hours leading conversations between people who see things differently—and I’m delighted every time they discover they have more in common than not.

All of my work is in service to one core truth: Above all, we need each other.