A ‘Civility in America’ survey conducted in 2016 found 75% of Americans thought incivility had reached crisis levels, and 56% expected it to increase. In the midst of widespread divisions in our present society that appear to threaten our ability to consider a variety of issues as a cohesive community, we hope to restore civility in our behavior and our speech and to re-establish the bonds of fell
owship and community that allow us to work together and are essential to friendship and mutual respect. We want to help create a community where everyone feels safe and is treated respectfully. One of the most important ways to create safe and respectful places is to learn to
discuss and deal with differences in a civil and constructive way. Civility does not
mean giving up your beliefs, being passive, staying silent, backing down, agreeing,
or avoiding conflict. But it does require speaking respectfully, kindly, courteously,
and without judgment, and listening with the goal of understanding, not of
persuading each other. We speak for ourselves without trying to represent a whole group, and we don’t ask others to represent, defend, or explain an entire group. We refrain from characterizing the views of others in a facile or inaccurate spirit, keeping in mind that we’re here to understand each other, not to win an argument. To facilitate and promote this behavior, we practice civility ourselves and offer
materials and workshops to increase these skills in our community, workplaces,
places of worship, and other organizations. For more information, see our website or contact us using the information in the profile. CONTACT, SPEAKERS, AND TRAININGS
If you are interested in a speaker for your organization, participating in a training or workshop, or taking part in the Walla Walla Valley Civility Project, please email [email protected], call 509-522-0399, or write to Walla Walla Civility Project, PO Box 1222, Walla Walla WA 99362.WA 99362.
