Israela Brill-Cass, Esq., J.D. (Suffolk University Law School), B.A. (Brandeis University). Senior Affiliated Faculty at Emerson College, Boston, MA, Ombudsperson at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, founder and principal at Fixerrr, LLC providing training and consulting in negotiation and conflict resolution to clients including the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Tufts Women in Medicine and Science, the Rhode Island School of Design, MIT, and the American Bar Association. Attorney Brill-Cass created the first federally-funded Agricultural Mediation Program in New England and is a contributing author to “Mediation: A Practice Guide for Mediators, Lawyers, and Other Professionals” (MCLE, 2013). In 2018 she was awarded the Alan L. Stanzler Award for Excellence in Teaching at Emerson and she has been recognized as a New England Super Lawyer (2012, 2016) and as a Top Woman Attorney in Massachusetts (2013, 2016).

Course: The Art of the Difficult Discussion
(Israela Brill-Cass and Phillip Glenn)

This course will introduce students to strategies for talking across differences and ideological and political divides.  Specific topics will include listening to understand and expressing one's own views respectfully.

Suggested Reading and Videos:
1. We have to have a talk: A step-by-step checklist for Difficult Conversations / Judy Ringer

https://www.mediate.com/articles/ringerJ1.cfm

 
2. No Enemies, No demands / Miki Kashtan

https://www.cnvc.org/what-nvc/articles-writings/no-enemies-no-demands/no-enemies-no-demands

3. The Gift of Conflict: Amy Gallo / Amy Gall

https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_e_gallo_the_gift_of_conflict

4. Getting creative with uncomfortable conversations / Angela Ognev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFemoGYR3_Y&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

For further reading:

1. Stone, D., Patton, B., & Heen, S. (2003) Difficult Conversations; How to Talk About What Matters Most. New York: Penguin.

2. Rosenberg, M. (2015). Nonviolent communication; A Language of Life. Encinitas, CA: Puddle Dancer Press