When was the last time you had a conversation with someone you disagreed with and simply listened to what they had to say?
That was the idea behind Together We Dine, an event hosted Tuesday evening by the New Braunfels Chamber and McKenna Foundation in partnership with Common Ground USA and Project Unity. Community members with different backgrounds, experiences, and political views gathered to share a meal and get to know one another.
The format was simple. Participants received conversation prompts and took turns sharing their thoughts while everyone else listened. No interruptions, no debates, and no trying to convince someone they were wrong. Once everyone had a chance to speak, the table could ask questions and discuss what they heard. The idea wasn't to change anyone's mind, but to better understand the person sitting across the table.
In a growing community like New Braunfels, there are plenty of opinions about where we're headed and how we should get there. We all bring different experiences, priorities, and ideas to those conversations. That's a good thing, but it also means we have to be willing to listen to one another.
The importance of those conversations was also reflected in two Spirit of Civility Awards presented during the evening to City Councilman Mike Capizzi and Chamber Board Chair Chris Snider.
McKenna Foundation CEO Alice Jewell recognized Capizzi for the patience, respect, and thoughtful leadership he has demonstrated in his service on City Council. Chamber CEO Jonathan Packer presented the second award to Snider, recognizing his leadership through difficult conversations and decisions over the past year, always with the Chamber's responsibility to the community in mind.
Both recognitions are reminders that good leadership doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations. It means being willing to have them, even when people disagree.
One dinner won't solve every disagreement in New Braunfels, but it can remind us how important it is to listen and understand one another. As our community grows, we'll continue to have different opinions about what's best for its future. We don't have to agree on everything to care about the same community. We just have to be willing to come to the table.