Curiosity & CONNECTION TRAINing

We help people of all ages strengthen their communication skills and sense of belonging at work, at school, or in life- all through the sharing of life stories.

Partner With Us

Even before the training ends, you are excited because you start seeing ways you can apply it, whether it’s with listening more or asking follow up questions, and then you get to test-drive these skills right there during the session.
— Kedan Harris, Assistant Director, Opportunity Youth, Boston Public Schools

The Challenge

We have a soft skills deficit in this country. We’ve forgotten how to listen to each other. We’ve forgotten how talk to each other. And it’s affecting our ability to collaborate- at work, in school, and in the community.

Public health officials are describing a “loneliness epidemic” at work and in schools, with consequences for how well people and communities can thrive. Add to that the health risks—weak social connections and loneliness are associated with a reduced life expectancy similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day—and we’ve got a problem.

 

Our Solution

Curiosity and Connection Training

Everyday Boston’s Curiosity and Connection Training is designed to strengthen the listening and communication skills we all need to collaborate across difference, and to cultivate a culture of belonging - all through the sharing of life stories. 

 
 

The experience

Through a series of interactive, story-based activities, participants practice active listening, framing effective questions, and asking follow-up questions as a group. Then, in a community-building exercise, they pair up to interview each other about their life experiences.

 

The Outcome

The training strengthens soft skills that are critical to surviving and thriving. Among them: Curiosity, creativity, problem solving, empathy, persistence and collaboration. Importantly, it also encourages connection between people who may not otherwise know or understand each other.

Young people

It was like an adventure in my mind!
— Sixth grade student

Who can benefit from this training?

Here are some of the groups we work with most regularly.

Workplace teams

Returning citizens

I will now see listening as a gift and treat it as a gift.
— Bank employee

College students

This workshop will help me not just in college, but in life.
— Northeastern student
My people skills have improved. I learned to connect with people I normally wouldn’t on a personal level.
— Incarcerated individual

About The Instructor

Cara Solomon is the Founder and Creative Director of Everyday Boston. A graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she was a reporter for several years, first at The Hartford Courant and later at The Seattle Times. Most recently, she worked as the Communications Manager for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School.

 

Past and Current Partners INCLUDE

  • Duet

  • Plymouth County Corrections

  • Boston Public Schools

  • Vertex

  • Northeastern University

  • Franklin Cummings Tech

Let’s work together.