“What’s the story you tell about Richmond when someone asks you why you live there?” “I usually tell them about the time….” At 7:30 am, November 12, 2009, on a very rainy Thursday morning, the 13th annual Metropolitan Richmond Day breakfast began. The weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the diverse crowd.

Richmond area residents have heard many case studies, ideas and successes from other localities across the United States. Consultants have advised the region on process, policy and procedures. Hope in the Cities decided NOT to bring in an outside keynote speaker this year, but to offer a new process. The 300+ attendees would be the speakers. By sharing a personal story about an issue of importance to him or her, each person might begin to gain a new perspective about change in the region by examining the narratives that others tell. What do we say about Richmond and how do we say it? How can we enlarge our narratives to include the experiences of others? How do we begin the very challenging business of forming authentic trusting relationships with those with whom we disagree?

Business leaders, educators and representatives of non-profit organizations at the breakfast sat in one of three ‘interest’ or topic areas » Race Relations: how is our community progressing on improving the relationships between racial groups? » Socio-Economic Divides: what are the stories in our lives that cause us to react in positive or negative ways to those that are not in the same socio-economic group as ourselves and our families? » Education K-12: how are we doing as a region on educating all of our children?

Using individual response keypads, participants identified themselves as residents of Richmond, or one of the surrounding counties, as well as other demographic categories such as race and culture. (Click here for PowerPoint with statistics)

After the keypad responses, each table became a dialogue group, sharing stories and listening. The morning wrapped up by highlighting the major themes in the stories from each topic area. Again using the keypads, audience members could indicate which stories they heard most often. Those answers were cross referenced to the earlier demographic information of locality, race/culture. Participants could reflect on the narratives about our whole region from multiple perspectives.

As people left the event, comments about the power of a meaningful conversation or dialogue could be heard. At least one table group has agreed to continue to meet to further the conversations started at the breakfast.

“I learned so much – first from the information presented from the podium, but especially from the people at my table. It was one of the most moving conversations I’ve ever had!” “I am so impressed by the depth of the stories shared at our table. As we listened to each other, some of us heard stories about our region we had never heard before…and now will never forget.” “I really hadn’t thought about how the story I tell about Richmond was so limited, so one dimensional. It is important to me now to hear more stores about our region, stories I’ve never heard before, so I can learn…”

Tom Silvestri, president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, who took part in the dialogue, wrote a commentary headed, Building Trust Comes From a Shared Narrative.