Lunches on the Lawn

Join us for Lunches on the Lawn and turn your lunch break into a lively exchange of ideas! Each week, guest moderators will tackle exciting and varied topics, sparking conversations about both the academic and professional worlds. Come ready to engage, share, and enjoy a great lunch!

Tuesdays, 12:15-1:00 PM, August 27-October 29, 2024.

• 8/27/24: Leading with Compassionate Conversations: Join us for an immersive experience designed to elevate your communication skills and foster genuine connections. For this Lunches on the Lawn, you will: learn tools for composed communication, establishing psychological safety through boundaries, addressing empathy barriers, and promoting constructive dialogue. This session will emphasize cross-cultural communication, facilitating authentic exchanges of diverse perspectives. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• 9/3/24: The Story of Me: The Story of Us: This Lunches on the Lawn focuses on the influential role of storytelling, emphasizing its impact on culture. Participants explore dominant narratives, recognizing their perpetuation through authority and repetition. The session aims to empower individuals to resist these narratives, highlighting storytelling’s role in shaping meaning and debunking prevailing myths. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• 9/10/24: The Core Needs for Success: Join us for a reflective and exciting discussion on what types of needs must be met for individual and institutional success. This session aims to empower participants to self-advocate in big and small ways for their personal and professional success. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by the Office of Government and Community Relations’ Tony Andrews.
• 9/17/24: Cultivating Empathy: This Lunches on the Lawn explores empathy and compassion development, stressing the importance of embracing diversity, irrespective of gender. During this session you will learn how to nurture empathy as a DEI skill, promote inclusivity and celebrate individuality. The goal this week is to encourage meaningful connections, safe spaces, and open discussions about successes, failures, and challenges to foster belonging. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• 9/24/24: Coming Soon
• 10/1/24: Neurodivergence in the Academic and Professional World: Join us for an insightful and thought-provoking dialogue on neurodivergence and its impact in academic and professional settings. This session aims to illuminate the experiences of individuals with neurodivergent conditions, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others, and explore strategies for creating more inclusive and supportive environments at George Mason University and at large. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by George Mason University’s Contemporary Student Services, Learning Services Specialist, Vicki Taylor 
• 10/8/24: George Mason University Sustainability Progress and How-to: Join us for an engaging and informative dialogue focused on the journey toward sustainability in George Mason University. This conversation will explore how educational institutions are advancing their sustainability goals and provide practical guidance on how students, staff, and the community can contribute to a greener future. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by George Mason University’s University Sustainability, director, Greg Farley
• 10/15/24: Nurturing Cultural Awareness and Resilience: This week Lunches on the Lawn delves into race, ethnicity, and cultural identity, exploring how they shape perspectives and interactions. Participants will reflect on personal experiences and their impact on relationships. This week we will also examine how these factors influence individuals and organizations, from policies to overall culture, fostering understanding and awareness. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
• 10/22/24: Compassionate Post-Election Conversation: Are you anticipating tough conversations about the election results with family and friends over the break, no matter which side of the aisle? This interactive Lunches on the Lawn encourages authentic exchanges of diverse perspectives, by teaching strategies for how to stay grounded and practice healthy boundaries. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
   
• 10/29/24: Compassionate Post-Election Conversation: Are you anticipating tough conversations about the election results with family and friends over the break, no matter which side of the aisle? This interactive Lunches on the Lawn encourages authentic exchanges of diverse perspectives, by teaching strategies for how to stay grounded and practice healthy boundaries. This Lunches on the Lawn is brought to you by The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution