L'Université autrement : Dans les cafés crée des lieux de rencontre et les met à la disposition des citoyens intéressés à continuer d'apprendre ou d'approfondir leur engagement à la faveur de discussions publiques et collectives. Ces cafés permettent à des individus de divers horizons et réalités de se rencontrer, dans un cadre où tous les gens et toutes les perspectives sont les bienvenus.
The University of the Streets Café creates gathering places for community members to pursue lifelong learning and engagement in the form of collective discussions. They are an opportunity for people of diverse backgrounds and realities to meet, where all people and perspectives are welcome.
What is a public conversation?
University of the Streets Café public conversations are two-hour events held in cafés and other public places. Each conversation focuses on a pre-determined question, sometimes in a series around a particular theme, with each installment exploring a different aspect of this general topic. The people who make up each conversation include: a moderator who is responsible for the structure and flow of the conversation; a guest to ‘get the ball rolling’ by sharing his/her perspective on the question at hand, and participants who are interested community members of all ages, and from all kinds of backgrounds.
Why conversations?
That is the big question! Why not lectures, or talks or even participatory workshops to explore issues? Conversations put the individual’s experience, or in the case of a public conversation, the experience of many individuals, at the centre of the learning process. By creating an open space for discussion, everyone is a learner (even the guest!) and each person is also an expert and has a chance to share their perspectives, thoughts and questions.
What do we learn at the University of the Streets Café?
Probably the most important thing we learn is how to learn together. Of course we learn about science or sex or history or any other topic covered in a public conversation. However, at the end of almost any conversation what stands even more than the factual learning is how challenging and inspiring it is to learn with a group and make space for individuals who come at a topic with very different opinions, experience and levels of expertise.