I have made a career of helping people understand each other and make good group decisions. I have professionally facilitated over 3,000 meetings for all kinds of groups, mostly in the public sector. I have written a book called The Wisdom of Group Decisions.

Troubled by the growing political divide and by the growing lack of respect in political conversations, I had the idea for a Make Shift Coffee House: a place for people to talk with each other in person, about political issues, with live music and good food. No charge. All welcome. I organized the first one in my home town of Brunswick, Maine on January 14, 2017 not knowing if there would be a second. Turns out it was a good idea and demand has been growing ever since. In our first three years we had 40 in-person Make Shift Coffee Houses all over Maine. In May, 2020 we are making the transition to an online format.

In October, 2019 I was thrilled to receive the American Civic Collaboration Award (A Civvy Award) for the work of Make Shift Coffee House. That and so many other achievements are due to the support and enthusiasm of many people to whom I am very grateful.

One way or another I’m trying to bring people together across our differences to listen and talk with respect, and understand where each other is coming from. My experience with groups has taught me that adversaries can work together and get good stuff done if they demonstrate respect and seek understanding.

If we are to survive climate change or foreign intervention or coronavirus or any other national threat, we must work together in spite of our differences. For starters, we have to be able to talk.