On the heels of the Government Finance Officers Association's annual conference session, "Political Risk and its Consequences," GFOA has partnered with OpenMind to provide limited-time, free access to an online course that teaches how to navigate political polarization.

The course is based on detailed social psychology research on why we hold different political beliefs and how to bridge those divides. This research was most famously used as the basis for the bestselling book, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion.

GFOA is funding the research and covering the cost for participants in the training so ICMA members can participate at no cost. Read the details of the program below and sign up by August 9, 2021. Spots are limited, so reserve yours now.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Overview

ICMA members are invited to participate in the OpenMind program, a psychology-based virtual learning experience that will help participants understand the roots of political polarization and equip them with the skills to collaborate across differing viewpoints. OpenMind explores the inner workings of the mind and the psychological roots of our ideological differences. It will provide a set of practical skills to make better decisions, improve relationships, and master difficult conversations.

What to Expect

Overall time commitment: 7 hours over 9 weeks (approximately 30-60 minutes per week).

In order to yield information about the effectiveness of the OpenMind program, when you sign up, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A will have access to the program from late August to mid-October; Group B will complete a survey but not begin the program until mid-October.

Eight Interactive Online Lessons

• OpenMind consists of eight interactive online lessons (30 minutes each) that weave together psychological concepts, practical skills, and interactive scenarios.

Four (Optional) Peer-to-Peer Conversations*

• Gain the chance to build a relationship with a peer and begin putting your skills into practice.
• You'll be randomly matched with a partner who you'll meet with four times for guided peer-to-peer conversations (30 minutes each).
• *You have the option to opt-out of the peer-to-peer conversations if you prefer to only complete the online lessons independently.

Live Capstone

• At the end of the program, you'll be able to participate in a facilitated capstone session (1 hour) with your peers to put your skills into practice.

Research

• You will be asked to complete three surveys, approximately 10 weeks apart. The surveys will be completely confidential, and used only to evaluate the effectiveness of OpenMind. The surveys will ask you about your attitudes and beliefs, and how you typically handle difficult conversations. For each survey you complete, you’ll be eligible to win prizes.

Sign Up

Complete this 1-minute survey. Sign up closes August 9. Note that this course is not eligible for CPE credits Questions? Contact Shayne Kavanagh at GFOA, skavanagh@gfoa.org.