LOUDONVILLE — Redbird Resilient, a Loudonville-Perrysville area non-profit organization, is presenting a program April 29 at the Ohio Theatre in Loudonville on the topic of “polarization.”
It is a topic that we all see played out frequently at the national level on TV, in the news, on social media and elsewhere. It also happens at times in our homes, communities and relationships. This event is free and open to the public.
Redbird Resilient is fortunate to have three individuals with professional backgrounds that can unpack what polarization is, how it can be damaging and how not to enter it. There are other areas as well, related to polarization, that will be presented.
Meet the speakers: David Ross
The first speaker will be David Ross, executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County.
“I will explore the concept of polarization – defining it clearly and unpacking three distinct forms; intrapersonal, interpersonal and transpersonal,” Ross said. “I work with a board composed of 12 appointed community members who volunteer their time and bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and expertise to their work.
“A key part of my role is helping the board engage one another with respect, think clearly about their positions, and apply consistent principles in decision making. When these elements are in place, disagreement becomes not a source of division, but a pathway to better outcomes,” Ross said.
“As a licensed clinical counselor, I have seen firsthand the personal and relational harm that unchecked polarization can cause. My hope is that participants leave this event equipped with practical tools – tools that strengthen their ability to navigate difficult conversations with clarity, conviction and care,” he said. “Ultimately, this work is not just about ideas or positions, but about people – and ensuring that, even in disagreement, we never lose sight of the human lives at the center of the discussion.”
Craig Hovey
The second speaker will be Craig Hovey, a professor of religion at Ashland University and executive director of the Ashland Center for Nonviolence.
“Like most people, I don’t like conflict and would relish a quiet and peaceful life. But sometimes conflict is necessary and good,” Hovey said. “I’ll be speaking about these times and circumstances partly based on ideas from Martin Luther King, Jr.
“For example, the creation of some nonviolent tension can bring needed awareness to an injustice in a society with the goal of getting to some resolution that benefits everyone,” Hovey said. “Along the way, it is just as crucial to listen and be open to hearing people we disagree with.
“Even though religion won’t be front and center in my presentation, my own interest in these things comes primarily from my training in Christian theology and ethics as well as my personal life of faith. Some of my scholarly work is in political theology, where visions of a just and peaceful society and world are always in view,” he said. “King called this vision the ‘beloved community’ and often used the older word ‘brotherhood’ to signal how important all people are and how they are worthy of respect and, yes, our love, even when we disagree. Perhaps especially then.”
Jeffrey Delbert
The third speaker will be Jeffrey Delbert, an assistant professor and chair of the communication studies department at Ashland University.
“I have spent the past two decades thinking about how media, politics and popular culture influence political engagement. Although this may include ‘Big P’ politics, my research explores how everyday citizens participate in political discussions,” Delbert said. “My thinking has explored the ways our media’s filter bubbles and carefully curated algorithms shape our social and political identities.
“Social media created spaces for people to participate in political discussions, share content and express their views. However, as polarized groups have formed, the openness of discourse has closed and has shifted toward amplifying one’s heightened identity,” he said.
“Understanding how societies cultivate civil discourse led me to pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Missouri. It has also led to publications on these topics across various journals and books,” Delbert said. “My hope for the talk is to encourage citizens to step back and consider how our information environments shape not only our identities, but also how it is influencing political engagement in our local communities.
“In spaces that are overrun with information that many of us do not trust, it is imperative we have the tools to enter seemingly polarized discussions with clear objectives. Understanding what citizens gain when we have ‘good’ arguments with neighbors who we’d consider ‘good’ people helps break down walls that divide our communities,” he said.
The April 29 event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Ohio Theatre, 156 N. Water St. in Loudonville.
Free popcorn and water will be provided. If unable to attend, look for the video 48 hours after the event at the website below.
Redbird Resilient was founded in 2018 with the mission of “Building community resilience to strengthen emotional health and reduce addiction.” For more information about Redbird Resilient, visit www.redbirdresilient.org.