LA’s First Cohort of the Can We? Project Attends Retreat

Participants in the Can We? Project at an in-house retreat at Lincoln Academy on November 13. The project hopes to promote respectful and productive discourse among high school students around Maine.

By Amelia Rice ’26

On Thursday, November 13, 20 Lincoln Academy students participated in an in-house retreat at LA as part of the Can We? Project. LA English teacher and Librarian Jackie Rudy and Director of Admissions Katy Niketakis are leading Lincoln’s first cohort of the Can We? Project, which is a statewide project aiming to promote respectful and productive political discourse among young people.

The retreat was led by project founder John Holdridge. Students started by learning communication and listening skills and applying them in low stakes ways. Students had conversations about their families, favorite things and places, and participated in a story exchange. Each student told a 2 minute story to a partner, and then the partner retold their story to a larger group, which was a lesson in listening.

Next, the retreat focused on applying these skills to politics. Students learned about political socialization and some of the psychology behind disagreements and ineffective communication. Finally, students introduced their skills into political discussions. After reflecting and discussing political issues that mattered to them, the retreat culminated in a group wide discussion about the day.

LA’s group will join dozens of other high schools across Maine at the Augusta Civic center on December 11, where students will be discussing politics, learning from other perspectives, and most importantly finding connections across differences.

Amelia Rice ‘26 is a member of the Talon Editorial Board as well as the Can We? Project and is excited to meet students across Maine in December.