Event Details

Join us for an extraordinary evening of insight and inspiration as a panel of nationally recognized innovators from the fields of business, sports, and the military share how they’ve navigated complex divisions to lead diverse teams toward common goals.

Featured panelists include:

• Bonnie Hammer, Retired Vice-Chair, NBC Universal
• Mel Raines, CEO, the Indiana Pacers (NBA)
• Steve Parrish, Retired Senior Vice President, Altria Group, Inc.
• Tony La Russa, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Manager
• Lindsay Czarniak, Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster
• General William Welch, U.S. Air Force General (retired)

The conversation will be facilitated by Dr. Allen Hilton, executive director of the House United Movement and Consulting Theologian at Greens Farms Church, who brings decades of experience in fostering dialogue across lines of difference.

Why You Should Come

Because, at a time when the United States is marked by deep political, racial, and cultural divides, the voices we need most are those who have successfully built unity across difference — not in theory, but in practice. And the remarkable panelists taking part in this panel discussion have done just that.

About the Common Ground Initiative

The Common Ground Initiative is The Westport Library’s forum for public discourse on topical issues of importance to the community. The aim of the initiative is to host a positive, productive conversation on how we work together to move forward as a civil society; encourage respectful, constructive dialogue; and build capacity to tackle challenging and/or controversial issues.