Big Tent Committee “Building Trust” Event
Date: Saturday February 21st
Time: 12.30-5pm
Click here to register by Friday February 20th.
Background
The Beth Israel Board of Directors’ Big Tent Committee is a new standing committee to support ongoing learning and development guided by Beth Israel Congregation’s mission around inclusion and belonging. For the Committee’s current membership and Terms of Reference, click here.
Building Trust Event: Saturday February 21, 2026
The Committee would like to invite all members and former members to participate in a special event! The purpose is to build trust and inclusion within the congregation by developing our capacity for compassionate listening and robust conversations. The event features an engaging tool proven to build empathy, deep listening and mutual understanding.
In the first part of this event, we will learn an engaging tool: Who You Are Matters!, proven to build empathy, deep listening and mutual understanding. Engaging, effective and surprisingly fun, this facilitated experience will help you clarify your strengths, identify personal qualities, gain awareness of what you want, and strengthen your voice. You’ll engage with and learn about others in our unique community.
Building on skills and relationships developed in Part 1, the second part – Clarifying My Role Amid Community Tensions – will explore benefits from meaningful and respectful conversations; factors that influence your bias; reactions you are having to what’s happening in our community; and what you would like to see in the future to reduce the tension.
This is intended as a safe and structured experience. In small groups, participants will explore our own perspectives, receive targeted feedback, build emotional intelligence and communication skills, and encourage inspired action to take next steps. The goals is for everyone to feel included in this unique story-listening experience.
The Facillitator
This event will be facilitated by Mark Franklin, MEd, PEng. Mark teaches career management at University of Toronto, is CareerCycles practice leader, co-founder of OneLifeTools, co-authored Who You Are Matters!, and was the Stu Conger award-winner. Mark consulted in his earlier engineering career, before earning a Masters in counselling then leading universities’ student services initiatives. His insights appear on CBC, GlobalNews, National Post, Globe and Mail. Mark has led a similar Building Trust event for Toronto’s Danforth Jewish Circle.
Video from DJC session https://djctoronto.com/event/who-you-are-matters/
Agenda ~ Please come on time! ~
Date: Saturday February 21st
Time: 12.30-5pm
12.30 Welcome and introduction
1.00 Who You Are Matters! conversation experience
2.30 break
3.00 Clarifying My Role Amid Community Tensions
4.30 Debriefing our experience, planning next steps
5.00 End