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the Civil Discourse conversations with the Calvert Library in 2007. The Rhoades were
invited to join the committee in hopes that they would be able to assist in structuring the
events in a way that would support constructive dialogue. They, like the rest of their
community mediation colleagues in Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, mediated in the
Transformative orientation, which takes a relational worldview of conflict. Transformative
mediation understands conflict as a crisis in human interaction. It is founded on the belief
that everyone has the innate desire to feel strong in self and connected to other. People have
the desire and the capacity to resolve their own conflict. It is the facilitators’ job to create a
safe space where the conversation can exist and support the participants, wherever they are
in their conversation. This orientation seemed to be a perfect fit for these conversations on
race and privilege.

As a result of being engaged with the Community Mediation Centers of Calvert and St.
Mary’s Counties, the Rhoades had many friends, colleagues and associates in Southern
Maryland and beyond whom they could call upon to assist with facilitating large and small
group discussions.

Thus, Middleham’s Big Conversation committee, under the leadership of Diane and Hugh
Davies, formed a Big Conversation on Dismantling Race and Privilege steering committee,
which consisted of not only their past committee members, but representatives from the
NAACP, CBW and the CMCC.

Moving Ahead

The steering committee now moved forward with plans to initiate the conversation. Several
events followed in the coming months. In order for the Big Conversation to be successful,
we had to prepare ourselves and our participants. Each activity expanded the conversation
and the diversity of participation.

Book Study: The concept for the book study was to introduce the topic of race and bias.
The committee had been told by numerous people that the conversation needs to start with
White people talking to White people. Until White people understand the concept of White
privilege and can acknowledge it and talk about it, there cannot be an honest conversation
on race.

Living into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America by Catherine Meeks was
chosen as the book to read and discuss. The book study started on Oct.8, 2017 and was a six
week program. Discussions of the book took place Oct. 1st through Nov. 12th on every
Sunday. A modified version of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago format was followed for

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