The Public Conversations Project prevents and transforms conflicts driven by deep differences in identity, beliefs, or values.
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civility
Empowering the True Spirit of American Democracy
December 13, 2011 — If you look back throughout the history of our country, many of our grand visions and democratic ideas began with informal conversations in taverns and parlors, coffee shops and living rooms. Patriots, activists, elected officials and volunteers, these Americans talked about their passions, hopes and dreams to good effect.
Civic Conversations: Building Capacity for Respectful Dialog in a Democracy
November 10, 2011 —This week at Public Conversations, we are proud to present our newest workshop, produced in collaboration with Courage & Renewal Northeast. We welcome you to join us in January on the campus of Wellesley College for:
Labels in the Room
March 8, 2011 — A new political effort called Can Religion Make Us More Civil?
February 24, 2011 — This post by John Backman was originally published by the Huffington Post. We are re-posting it here with John’s permission because we think the topic is highly valuable. What we did not find highly valuable, however, was the tone and content of many of the more than a thousand comments that the original posting has received. We are interested in online conversations and in talking about civility, but we continue to wonder how we can do better when it comes to both of these. With that in mind, we offer John’s thoughts as a way of beginning the conversation on a fresh canvas.
Mixing it up for the State of the Union
January 10, 2011 — I don't know about you, but I generally watch the State-of-the-Union with people who think like me. That leaves all of us free to let loose our most partisan cheers, boos, and comments.
O’Reilly a Civility “First Follower?”
September 8, 2010—Here at the Public Conversations Project, we've been intrigued with an idea from music entrepreneur Derek Sivers, who posted a video on his Web site called "Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy." The lesson is that any change effort needs not just the guy who starts it, but "first followers"—the ones willing to stand (or dance) alongside a leader and embrace a new thing when it's risky or looks dumb.
Happier New Year, Jeff Jacoby—Jan. 25, 2010
Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby ruined my New Year’s Eve. His final column of 2009, “New Adventures in Incivility” interrupted my annual effort to prioritize self-improvement strategies for the incoming year, a mental ritual that has usually been an effective distraction from excessive brooding about ominous trends in The Big Picture.
