Bringing diverse people together in conversations
OUR CHARTER
other Leagues and communities the techniques and skills in facilitating civil discourse/engagement, educating and encouraging the use of civil discourse principles in our communities.Membership on the committee is open to all those interested in and aligned with our Charter. Committee meetings are typically monthly and are focused on developing and promoting civil engagement and civil discourse methods and events. We also collaborate with the National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD) and the LWV US.
PLANNED UPCOMMING EVENTS
- Disinformation, AI, and Microtargeting: Recognizing Manipulation, Mis- and Dis-information Workshop, September 25, 7-8pm via Zoom
Register here!
- Participate in planning our next events on AI Regulation that include data privacy, transparency, bias and fairness, safety, and accountability at our regular meeting on September 15 at 1pm via Zoom .
- Presentations on "What Works in Our Communities"
OUR PAST EVENTS
We have delivered workshops and training events focused on multiple topics of interest
to our members and in response to the needs of our communities:
2025 Events and Recordings:
- (April 29, 2025) Viewing of the Documentary: Stripped for Parts (the story about how an American Hedge fund is quietly gobbling up newspapers across the country and gutting them)
2024 Event Recordings:
2023 Event Recordings:
2022 Event Recordings:
- Policing: What Should We Do to Ensure Fair Treatment and Keep Neighborhoods Safe for Everyone
- Taxation & Spending Challenges for Finding Common Ground
- Bridging the Polarization Gap in our Political Environment ( The Science of Us vs Them )
- Unstable Community Housing
- How to Maintain the Public's Rights and its Safety
- Equity in Education
- The Racial Wealth Gap
Our workshops are based on tested materials and methods and can be tailored to the
event requester's needs.
Contact US
We encourage you to contact us ( civil-discourse [at] lwvsantaclaracounty.org ) for more information.
OTHER RESOURCES
Four Constructs for Civic Engagement (Working to make a difference in the civic life of one's community):
- Civic Action or participation in activities such as volunteering or social-learning to help better the communuty (Bobek, Zaff, Li, & Lerner, 2009)
- Civic Commitment or Duity or the willingness to make positive contributions to society
- Civic Skills or the ability to be involved in civil society, politics, and society
- Social Cohesion or a sense of reciprocity, trust, and bonding to others
See and/or print Conversation Agreements to aid you and others to discuss issues effectively and civilly.
There are a large number of organizations around the country concerned about our civil divide and are working to unite us. Among them:
- National Institute for Civil Discourse
- National Issues Forum Institute
- Markkula Center for Applied Ethics
- Living Room Conversations