Building Trust Through Dialogue

Kristin Daley

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Building Trust Through Dialogue

Foster open communication and empathy

This lesson focuses on fostering open communication and mutual understanding between police officers and community members through role-playing exercises. Participants will practice active listening and empathy, which are crucial skills for building trust and improving relationships. By engaging in these exercises, both community activists and police officers can gain insights into each other's perspectives, leading to more effective collaboration and problem-solving.

Audience

Community Activists and Police Officers

Time

1 hour

Approach

Foster open communication and empathy

Materials

Role-playing scenarios, Discussion questions, Pens and notepads, and Empathy and active listening handout

Step 1

Introduction

10 mins

Welcome participants and introduce the lesson's objectives: fostering open communication and mutual understanding.
Briefly discuss the importance of active listening and empathy in building trust.
Explain the structure of the lesson, including role-playing exercises and discussions.

Step 2

Role-Playing Exercise

30 mins

Divide participants into small groups, mixing community activists and police officers.
Distribute role-playing scenarios to each group.
Instruct participants to take turns playing different roles, focusing on practicing active listening and empathy.
Encourage participants to reflect on their feelings and reactions during the exercise.

Step 3

Group Discussion

15 mins

Reconvene as a whole group.
Facilitate a discussion using prepared questions to explore insights gained from the role-playing exercises.
Encourage participants to share their experiences and any changes in perspective.

Step 4

Closure

5 mins

Summarize key takeaways from the lesson.
Highlight the importance of continued practice of active listening and empathy in daily interactions.
Thank participants for their engagement and encourage them to apply these skills in their community work.

0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Worksheet

Role-Playing Scenarios

These cards contain scenarios for participants to role-play, focusing on active listening and empathy.

Scenario 1: A community member expresses concerns about police presence in their neighborhood.

Scenario 2: A police officer explains the challenges they face in maintaining public safety.

Scenario 3: A community activist discusses the impact of recent events on community trust.

Scenario 4: A police officer seeks feedback on community policing strategies.

Discussion

Discussion Questions

These questions guide the group discussion to reflect on the role-playing exercises and explore insights gained.

What was the most challenging part of the role-playing exercise?

Encourage participants to think about moments where they struggled to listen or empathize.

How did it feel to be in the other person's shoes?

Prompt participants to reflect on any new perspectives they gained.

What strategies did you find effective in practicing active listening?

Discuss techniques like paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and maintaining eye contact.

How can these skills be applied in real-life interactions between police and community members?

Explore practical applications and encourage sharing of personal experiences.

Reading

Empathy and Active Listening Handout

This handout provides tips and techniques for practicing empathy and active listening.

Empathy and Active Listening

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It involves putting yourself in someone else's shoes and seeing the world from their perspective.

Active Listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. It requires:

Paying Attention: Give the speaker your undivided attention.
Showing That You're Listening: Use body language and gestures to convey your attention.
Providing Feedback: Reflect on what has been said by paraphrasing.
Deferring Judgment: Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.
Responding Appropriately: Be candid, open, and honest in your response.