How it works

Hear Me Out is a debate night with one ground rule: we argue about ideas, not people. We use Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to keep disagreement productive instead of personal.

What is Nonviolent Communication?

NVC is a way of talking (and listening) built around four steps: naming what you observed without judgment, saying how it made you feel, identifying the need behind that feeling, and making a clear request. In a debate, that means we can disagree strongly on a topic while still speaking to each other with honesty and respect.

What a night looks like

• We open with the topic and a short reminder of the NVC ground rules.
• Small groups explore different perspectives on the question.
• We come back together to share what surprised us, not just to "win" the argument.

Ground rules

• Speak from your own experience ("I think/feel"), not accusations ("you're wrong").
• Assume good faith — everyone in the room wants to understand, not just be understood.
• It's fine to change your mind out loud.