Written by: Soleida Perez, Program Director, ADR Learning Institute
February is Black History Month, a time to reflect on history, lived experience, and the ongoing impact of systems shaped by power, exclusion, and inequality. In conflict resolution and dialogue work, these realities matter. They shape how conflict is experienced, whose voices are heard, and what is required for meaningful engagement and repair.
Listening sits at the centre of this work. In a polarized world, people often arrive in conflict carrying different histories, narratives, and understandings of reality. Without listening that is intentional, informed, and attentive to context, dialogue becomes fragile. Listening, in this sense, is not neutral; it is shaped by awareness of history, identity, and responsibility.
In Canada the third week of February is known as Kindness Week. In mediation and conflict resolution, kindness is not a slogan or a soft gesture. It is a disciplined, relational practice that shows up in how we listen, how we prepare spaces for dialogue, and how we remain present when conversations are difficult.
At the ADR Learning Institute, kindness and listening are understood as professional practices rooted in equity, dignity, and accountability. They guide how we engage difference, honour lived experience, and support dialogue that is both respectful and rigorous.
This February, we invite reflection on how listening and kindness — practiced with intention and awareness — help create the conditions for trust, understanding, and meaningful conflict resolution in our communities and institutions.
For more information on Black History Month, visit the Government of Canada website.
More information on Kindness Week in Canada can be found here.
