"A wise, simple, brilliant method for defusing community conflict and engendering creative unity."

—The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog

Listening Project RSVP
30 years of helping communities move

from divisiveness and disempowerment

to listening and community action

Listening Project RSVP provides consultation and training that has enabled community-based organizations, in the United States and internationally, to conduct Listening Projects and/or Facilitated Group Listening sessions. Both of these programs have had remarkable and even transformative success in addressing vital issues and community problems:

• Sustainable community and economic development
• Social justice
• Environmental protection and creation care
• Community development in disadvantaged communities
• Improvement of programs and services such as health and education
• Conflict and reconciliation
• Other local, national or international concerns

A Listening Project (LP) is a comprehensive process that includes deep listening interviews and community organizing that can result in effective community empowerment, education and action.

• Listening:  Project interviewers are trained in deep listening.  They take time to build trust and understanding as they ask pre-determined, open-ended questions that help people go deeper into expressing their fears, hopes, needs, and solutions. As citizens begin to understand that their feelings, opinions and actions matter, they respond in dynamic ways. They may open to new ideas and possibilities, find common ground with opponents or offer creative ideas and solutions. Some take the next step to action or leadership. Thus, more people get involved, community priorities and new solutions are uncovered, and improved relations help bring about real change.
• Organizing and Grassroots Action:  LPs are conducted by an organization, a coalition or a partnership of organizations. All that is gained from LP interviews is incorporated into ongoing community organizing that transforms new resources into real change that benefits the community. 

Facilitated Group Listening (FGL) is a program we initiated in 1992. FGL brings a large group of people together to address difficult issues and concerns. In small groups of three to six, participants listen to one another in a structured, safe and affirming environment.  This reduces conflict, increases understanding and often results in creative solutions. Facilitated Listening is often used as part of a LP because a Listening Project can open the door to people who normally will not come to a group dialogue.  However, Facilitated Listening has often been used successfully on its own.   

Who We Are: Rural Southern Voice for Peace (RSVP) initiated the first Listening Project in 1984.  Since then successful projects have been conducted throughout the U.S. and internationally.   RSVP serves as the national and international Training and Resource Center for the Listening Project and Facilitated Group Listening. 

1. To see examples and accomplishments of Listening Projects and Facilitated Group Listening, go to: Results and/or Facilitated Group Listening
2. For more guidance on the Listening Project go to : How It Works, Results, Steps, Time & Resources Needed and the Resources Library
3. Once informed, you can Request Training and/or Contact Us

We Welcome You To Be A Part Of Our Work Tell others and keep in touch – we are a grassroots organization that would love to know you care.  We appreciate your interest and hope you will also go to:  Support our work! and Join our mailing list!

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