Death is part of the human experience; all of us have experienced loss, and all of us will die one day. Yet conversations about death and dying are difficult and often avoided even with our closest family members and friends.

Friday, October 23, 2015 | 12:00 p.m.
Downtown Bend Library

Saturday, October 24, 2015 | 12:00 p.m.
Redmond Library

“Talking about Dying” is a one-time, ninety-minute community discussion that provides Oregonians with an opportunity to reflect on what stories and influences shape their thinking about death and dying and to hear different perspectives and ideas from fellow community members. Participants will explore essential questions: What do we think about when we think of dying? As people we’ve known have moved closer to death, what seemed to work well for them and the people close to them? What seemed difficult? When we think about our own dying, what do we want most?

Participants will come away from this conversation with a strengthened sense of community support and collective engagement around these questions, as well as a resource list with tools and information to help them consider how to shape a meaningful approach to death and dying.

“Talking about Dying” is a statewide initiative by Oregon Humanities, created in partnership with Cambia Health Foundation, to bring thirty conversations about death and dying to communities across the state from September through November. These conversations will be facilitated by trained professionals working in the fields of chaplaincy, counseling, gerontology, facilitation, and hospice care. For more information about this free community discussion, please contact Liz Goodrich at 541-312-1032, lizg@deschuteslibrary.org

Oregon Humanities (921 SW Washington, Suite 150; Portland, OR 97205) connects Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities. More information about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Idea Lab, Public Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.

For more information about this or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz at 312-1032.