Institute for Civility

Institute for Civility We believe that civility is about more than just politeness, although politeness is a necessary first step. And civility begins with us.

"Civility is claiming and caring for one's identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else's in the process."
- Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath, co-founders of the Institute for Civility The Institute for Civility is dedicated to reducing the polarization of our political and legislative processes by facilitating dialogue, teaching respect, and building civility in both the public an

d private spheres. It is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, listening past one’s preconceptions, and teaching others to do the same. Civility is the hard work of staying present even with those with whom we have deep-rooted and fierce disagreements. It is political in the sense that it is a necessary prerequisite for civic action. But it is political, too, in the sense that it is about negotiating interpersonal power such that everyone’s voice is heard, and nobody’s is ignored.

Having all the fun at of DeKalb’s Corn 🌽 Fest!
08/29/2026

Having all the fun at of DeKalb’s Corn 🌽 Fest!

Just had an awesome meeting with a few of our new interns Northern Illinois University at The Huskie Den- which btw has ...
08/27/2026

Just had an awesome meeting with a few of our new interns Northern Illinois University at The Huskie Den- which btw has been beautifully remodeled since I graduated and was FULL of students playing pool and hanging out! These highly skilled interns will be handling our social media, managing our shop and planning events! This is going to be a busy fall season!

Wisdom Wednesday: People often rise to what you expect of them. This often applies to ourselves as well. Self-fulfill...
08/26/2026

Wisdom Wednesday: People often rise to what you expect of them. This often applies to ourselves as well. Self-fulfilling prophecy can be negative- or we can ensure they’re positive!

Want to learn how you can bring your group to DC to have your voices heard? We seek grant funding to make these trips p...
08/07/2026

Want to learn how you can bring your group to DC to have your voices heard? We seek grant funding to make these trips possible! Schedule your student trip today!

The meeting, led by Carolyn, introduced the DC Legislative Seminars...

Our meet & greet was well attended! It’s always so lovely to connect with like minded people! As iron sharpens iron, s...
07/23/2026

Our meet & greet was well attended! It’s always so lovely to connect with like minded people! As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another!

We're excited to share a milestone for the Institute for Civility!Our Co-Founder and President, Cassandra Dahnke, has of...
07/22/2026

We're excited to share a milestone for the Institute for Civility!

Our Co-Founder and President, Cassandra Dahnke, has officially taken the TEDxFoggyBottom stage.

In this thought-provoking talk, Cassandra shares why meaningful relationships can survive even our deepest disagreements—and why civility is more important now than ever. Rather than avoiding conflict, she encourages us to engage with courage, curiosity, and respect while remaining true to our own values.

If you've ever struggled to have a difficult conversation with a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor, this talk offers practical insights you can begin using today.

🎥 Watch the full TEDx Talk here:
https://youtu.be/dIkAra7_gnA?is=9dTpHmQ3_YEMQMiR

After you watch, we'd love to hear:
What's one lesson that resonated with you?

In this talk, a longtime civility educator, Cassandra Dahnke, share...

We’re in City of Texas City ! Here appreciating the support of Rotary Club of Texas City for our student legislative se...
07/22/2026

We’re in City of Texas City ! Here appreciating the support of Rotary Club of Texas City for our student legislative seminar that has empowered students annually since 2008 to visit DC and learn how to speak their truth to their reps in DC!

👕 Wear Your Values. Start Conversations.What if something as simple as a T-shirt could spark a meaningful conversation?O...
07/09/2026

👕 Wear Your Values. Start Conversations.

What if something as simple as a T-shirt could spark a meaningful conversation?

Our new Institute for Civility apparel is more than just merchandise—it's a way to share your commitment to respect, dialogue, and building stronger communities wherever you go.

Every purchase helps support the Institute's mission to reduce polarization by facilitating dialogue, teaching respect, and building civility in both the public and private spheres.

Whether you're attending an event, volunteering, or simply out running errands, your shirt can be a reminder that civility starts with each of us.

🛍️ Visit our online shop and find your new favorite tee: https://institute-for-civility-zud-shop.fourthwall.com/

Thank you for helping us spread civility—one conversation at a time.

Address

Capitol Hill, DC

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute for Civility posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category