The New Hampshire Humanities Council, awarded a $225,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a major three-year project on immigration in the Granite State, sponsored a PCR training of its facilitators on June 19-20. This was an extraordinarily diverse group of facilitators, including immigrants and refugees from Africa, India and the Middle East, and participants from a broad range of work backgrounds—including members of the clergy, state legislators, high school teachers, and law enforcement.

After the facilitation training, Kathy Smith, Project Director of "Fences and Neighbors," reflected on the benefits of civic reflection for participants in the initiative:

"Civic reflection discussions help us

• Develop a richer, more adequate vocabulary for communicating with one another
• Restore nuances in our lexicon that are not aired in our national discourse, which is more immediate and information-oriented than reflective and value-based
• 'Dwell' inside a story and begin to understand it and its relationship to self, other, and common life
• Name the tensions without feeling judged
• Come to the table as equals
• Practice unselfish listening—a gift we give individuals in the group
• Articulate meaningful questions that emerge from what we do
• Develop a deeper appreciation for literature's capacity to move us toward relationship."

PCR Executive Director Elizabeth Lynn, who co-led the training with NHHC associates, reported being "very impressed by this initiative and the people [they] have brought in to help facilitate it. I saw civic reflection working in a profound way with a diverse group around some very difficult issues… I am truly excited for the council and hope that we can continue to learn from each other."

The award for "Fences and Neighbors: New Hampshire's Immigration Stories" is the largest ever made by the NEH to the New Hampshire Humanities Council. According to NHHC Executive Director Deborah Watrous, "This $225,000 grant will allow us to create an initiative that will examine immigration in New Hampshire in great depth and breadth."