Following an initial June 21 installment, on July 19 and August 16 the Southern Front Range Alliance is continuing a Summer Series it is producing in partnership with Reclaiming Civility. Each day of the series presents an opportunity to take part in a morning workshop and/or an afternoon debate, with a delicious free lunch and social time in between. The proximate goal is to help participants master practical tools for engaging in meaningful dialogue with people on the other side of political and social divides.

Reflecting on his June 21 experience, one of the participants said (more from him above), “I want to have these conversations where we listen and learn about each other's views, not to reach some kumbaya moment, but to focus on what matters to each of us, so we can make better decisions and change.”

This advocacy is highly resonant with what Reclaiming Civility is all about, with its “focus on the core skills of civility that apply to every aspect of life—helping individuals, organizations, and communities thrive through stronger relationships.” It is also, of course, integral to the Braver Angels vision – our ultimate goal – of “an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation.”

At the heart of all of this is a commitment to treat one another with an assumption of good will and good faith, an expectation that two people can “agree to disagree” amicably, and also the great potential through cordial dialogue to achieve not merely a measure of common ground but even agreement on “better decisions and change.”