Ralph Ellison writes, “Some people are your relatives, but others are your ancestors, and you can choose the ones you want to have as ancestors. You create yourself out of [their] values.”

In small groups, using our deep listening guidelines, we will discuss heritage. These questions are offered as possible springboards for conversation: Whose shoulders are you standing on and how are you working to further their values? Is there a way in which you want to depart from your family heritage so you can pass on something more constructive to the next generation? What family memento has the deepest meaning for you? (If it’s light and portable, bring it with you for show-and-tell.) As always with small groups, our underlying topic is deep listening. It’s a practice that takes practice.