Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 5:15 PM until 8:00 PMEastern Daylight Time UTC -04:00
The Inn at Swarthmore10 S Chester RdSwarthmore, PA 19081United States
Can Political Empathy Help De-polarize our Politics?
Lia Howard, Director of the Political Empathy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania
The Political Empathy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania explores how to build dialogue across today’s sharp political differences. A practice called “democratic listening” has shown great promise when used by UPenn students on multiple trips to communities across Pennsylvania. Having trained and led students on those trips, Prof. Howard will report on what they learned and what their experiences tell us about reducing political polarization.
The Swarthmore Discussion Group (SDG) presents exceptional speakers on timely topics in a social setting that encourages stimulating discussion. In doing so, SDG enriches the lives and friendships of its members and enhances a sense of community among Swarthmore College alumni, students, their families, nearby residents, and other friends. Our speakers are distinguished scholars, community leaders, and field experts. Following their presentations on topics including politics, foreign affairs, economics, culture, and social issues, they welcome questions from and discussions with and among members.
Schedule: 5:15–6 p.m. (optional) Happy Hour 6 p.m. Dinner 7–8:15 p.m. Talk and Q&A