Family and Community: Navigating Diverse Perspectives Together

Family and Community: Navigating Diverse Perspectives Together

Sunday, April 26th from 12:15 - 1:15 PM

Host: Steve Ghikadis -  www.steveghikadis.com

Organizational affiliation: Humanist Canada

Contact host:  steveghikadis@gmail.com

In a world increasingly defined by division, one of the most vital skills we can cultivate is the ability to speak across differences in worldview with grace, curiosity, and understanding. Taught by the author of the award-winning book Humanism from the Heart: Building Bridges Beyond Belief, this immersive session offers a practical roadmap for transforming disagreement into meaningful human connection.

The session begins by grounding participants in the core principles of bridge-building conversation. Rather than focusing on “winning” arguments, we center the human relationship beneath differing opinions. Participants are introduced to Street Epistemology, a conversational approach rooted in the Socratic method that emphasizes gentle, respectful questioning. You’ll learn how to explore the “how” and “why” behind beliefs in ways that reduce defensiveness, foster reflection, and reveal shared values that transcend religious, political, and philosophical divides.

Building on this foundation, the session transitions into guided, hands-on practice. Through interactive exercises and simulated dialogues, participants apply these conversational tools in real time, with support and feedback from the instructor. This experiential component helps refine the ability to remain calm, curious, and cordial, even in challenging discussions, while strengthening confidence and fluency in bridge-building techniques.

By the end of the session, participants leave not only with a deeper understanding of respectful dialogue, but with practical skills they can immediately use to build stronger connections in their families, workplaces, and communities.

About the host:

Steve Ghikadis is a Humanist Officiant, who conducts secular marriages, memorials, and many more meaningful life affirming celebrations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Education in primary, junior and intermediate grades. Raised as a freethinker, Steve has been married to a Christian for over a decade. He and his wife, Cindy, believe in the importance of bridging the gap between believers and non-believers. Their two young children are being raised in an interfaith household and are free to choose their own path. His family dynamic inspired him to write Humanism from the Heart: Building Bridges Beyond Belief, a book that emphasizes the importance of working together to celebrate the diversity of worldviews. Steve serves as an Ambassador for Humanist Canada, Recovering from Religion, and Sunday Assembly. In 2024, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for significant contributions to the Windsor/Essex community. 

Type of Event:

Jane's Talk - Seated presentation (no dogs, please)

Sandwiches and snacks provided

Event location:

John R. Park Homestead - Visitor Centre

915 County Road 50 East, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0

https://maps.app.goo.gl/4Xk7SE9NpZkPnG9Y6

Audience:

• Adult-focused content

Accessibility notes:

• The Visitor Centre is fully accessible.

  
  

Is there a bathroom in the space?

• Yes, wheelchair-accessible bathroom available in the space (step-free entry, wide doorway, and enough space for mobility devices)

Where can attendees park?

• Free parking lot at the starting/ending location