Community Organizing for Social Justice Teach-Out

Listening and Learning (LARA)

One strategy for practicing communication is to listen and learn, and then to respond to what they are saying --- it’s not about agreeing, but understanding --- and, when the person feels heard, they might more fully hear you, and dialogue is more possible.

Listen, Affirm, Respond, Add (LARA) is a method that is based on dialogue before responding, for example:

• Listen, to understand what they are saying, and find something – whether a fact or principle – on which you can agree.
 
• Affirm, by making a connection with him or her and thus conveying that you understand them.
 
• Respond in ways that show respect, even if you disagree. Many people want to start here but by doing so can limit the process.
 
• Add information. Communicate what’s on your mind in a thoughtful that conveys that you want to continue the conversation.

Practice this conversation activity with another person. The following is an example from which to learn from:

• Listen (other speaking): “The real cause of the achievement gap is that minority students have opportunities but are not working hard enough to succeed.”
 
• Affirmation (you speaking): “I’m glad that you recognize that society offers opportunities and appreciate the importance of hard work.”
 
• Response (you speaking): “My concern is that too many students attend schools with inadequate resources which keep them from success.”
 
• Added information (you speaking): “Some people want to change the schools that keep achievement gaps in place. What about providing them with more funds for improving achievement of all students? Would you attend a community meeting to discuss the issue?”

• What topic did you choose to practice with? Write in the responses for each of the four stages of LARA.
 
• What did you notice for each of the stages?
 
• Was it easy or difficult for you to both listen and affirm before responding?
 
• Did you learn anything new from the other person or about yourself? If so, what?

Dialogue