In October 2025, the Alliance, CARLI, and PALCI issued a joint statement, “Free Speech Needs Free Libraries,” about the importance of libraries to the exercise of free speech. We are jointly developing a cross-consortial learning and conversation series to support the collective community of library workers across our three consortia. CARLI started the series with Censorship in Libraries and Academic Spaces in April 2026.
Introduction to Reflective Conversations
Speaker: Jennifer Alkezweeny, Program Director, Oregon Humanities
Date: October 27, 2026, 11am-12pm PDT / 12pm-1pm MDT / 1pm-2pm CDT / 2pm-3pm EDT
Online Webinar: Registration for library and archives workers affiliated with Orbis Cascade Alliance, CARLI, or PALCI.
(Registration will be limited to 300 participants.)
Recording: The webinar will not be recorded.
Description: Reflective conversations are framed, yet open-ended, dialogues about ideas. Instead of focusing on coming to consensus, finding solutions, or debating an argument, the goals of reflective conversation are exploration, learning through listening, and building community.
Jennifer Alkezweeny (Oregon Humanities) will introduce the concepts and applications of reflective conversations: when to use them, the differences between reflective and decision-making conversations, and some of the practices for facilitation. As an introductory webinar, this session will be less interactive than a full training, but participants will be asked to self-reflect, with opportunities to share-out. (Breakout rooms will not be used.)
Objectives:
- Understand the framework for Reflective Conversations
- Identify the difference between Reflective Conversations and other types of conversations
- Begin to identify how they might use these types of conversations in their libraries
Speaker Bio: Jennifer Alkezweeny has been Oregon Humanities’ program director since 2020. She supports the team of folks who make Oregon Humanities programs happen, provides leadership for the organization’s vision, and connects with organizations and communities to explore new initiatives. In this role, Jennifer enjoys meeting folks from all over the state, understanding what’s important in communities, and thinking of creative ways to get folks talking and listening to one another. She has created learning spaces around the country and globe and loves that moment when it’s hard to get folks in the room to quiet down. Jennifer is a deep believer in experiential learning, harnessing the knowledge in a room, finding your learning edge, and the power of silence.