Nothing could be more needed in these conflicted times than the practice of collaborative problem-solving. In this eminently practical guide, based on decades of successful experience organizing dialogues on charged public issues, Fersh and Levison present valuable lessons illustrated with powerful and inspiring stories. Highly recommended! --William Ury, Co-author, Getting to Yes; Author, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict Fersh and Levison provide a critical and practical guide on how to renew our democracy. This book is an essential antidote to gridlock and dysfunction. It is intended to inspire people to get back to the job of building trust, relationships, and consensus to save our democracy. We know what works. The lessons are in this book. --Leon E. Panetta, former Secretary of Defense Brimming with expertise, realistic hope, and practical strategies for engaging in the collaborative problem-solving we sorely need today. The breadth of the authors' experiences with different groups and issues is astonishing. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro at group problem-solving, there is something important for you in this beautifully written book. --William J. Doherty, PhD, Professor, University of Minnesota; Co-founder of Braver Angels The authors offer tested and proven strategies for necessary but difficult work. They understand that attending to relationships and developing trust are the core of collaborative problem-solving. This is, ultimately, a book about leadership. --Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association What happens to our republic if we cannot genuinely listen to each other, if we do not trust each other? The inescapable answer is that we will not long live in freedom. From Conflict to Convergence recalls the values and virtues of our democracy, guiding us through collaborative problem-solving on contentious policy issues to the creation of mutual gain solutions serving the larger public good. In these troubling times of tumult and turmoil, nothing could be better than that! --Marc Racicot, former Governor of Montana; former Republican National Committee Chairman Helping others cooperate across their differences is essential to the strength of our diverse democracy, and this book will teach you how to be the kind of leader who can do just that. Written by two stars in the field, with clear frameworks and compelling stories, it is an essential text for our polarized times. --Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith America; Author of We Need to Build: Field Notes for Diverse Democracy