The Sounds of Truth Festival is part festival and part professionally facilitated dialogues amongst politically and ideologically diverse groups such as Occupy and Tea Party.

Irvine, CA, June 14, 2012 -- People once thought it impossible that Occupiers, Tea Partiers, Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians could ever sit down together in a civil conversation. Yet the nonprofit Rebellious Truths isn’t buying it. To prove it, they are hosting the very first “Sounds of Truth Festival” on Saturday, July 7th, 2012 at Mason Regional Park in Irvine, California from 10 AM to 5 PM. This event will be part festival with music, art, dancing and food, and “part visionary practice in empathy and unity.”

This practice, the nonprofit claims, has never been before attempted and will consist of a series of dialogues between the supporters of Rebellious Truths and those who identify themselves as Independents, Occupy, Tea Party, Libertarians, Republicans, Democrats and all others who wish to attend. The dialogues will be facilitated by the internationally recognized World in Conversation Project that has facilitated dialogues for the United Nations, NATO, and Israel-Palestinian among other high-tension conflicts. Its founders Dr. Sam Richards (of TED Talk fame) and his wife Dr. Laurie Mulvey will be overseeing the conversations. There will be speeches by former United States Comptroller General David M. Walker, a representative from Project Censored, and Dr. Richards will also be giving a speech.

Through a series of professionally facilitated discussions, Rebellious Truths hopes that the polarized political and ideological groups can begin to understand one another and help put a human face on the superficial labels. Since its launching in September 2011, Rebellious Truths videos have collectively garnered over two million views and a strong social media presence of over 35,000 Facebook friends, and partnered with many respectable and diverse organizations from across the nation.

The event is free with a suggested donation. Those who want to sign up for the dialogues or attend event should visit the Rebellious Truths website to sign up. Check in begins at 9:45 AM for those in the dialogue groups. Activities begin at 10:00 AM and go until 5 PM. Music, food, dancing and art will continue throughout the day.