Managing Difficult Public Conversations

CCM partners with Braver Angels to foster respectful communication

It’s no secret that Americans feel more divided by their politics than they have in decades. This growing separation has made public service and politics difficult. In municipal and school board meetings, opeds, and especially on social media, it seems like folks are spending more time being angry than resolving issues. CCM for our part instituted the Civility Pledge last year as a call to action. We have co-also sponsored a civility workshop with the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service – University of Hartford. We are dedicated to helping local governments to promote civil discourse. Even when we disagree on key issues, it is possible to discuss issues respectfully and seek common ground. In our latest effort to promote civility, CCM is partnering with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), the Connecticut Association of Public-School Superintendents and Braver Angels to present a webinar on “Managing Difficult Conversations” on October 17.

Our Civility Pledge, has garnered dozens of signees as well as press coverage from some of Connecticut’s top news outlets. Members pledged “to build a stronger and more prosperous community by advocating for civil engagement, respecting others and their viewpoints, and finding solutions for the betterment of my town or city.” CCM knew that we owed it to members to give them the tools to make this a reality. That is when Braver Angels, on the heels of a partnership with the Westport Library and Connecticut Public Radio, approached CCM to present to our members.

Braver Angels is a grassroots movement dedicated to doing on a national level what we hope to achieve with the civility pledge here in Connecticut. Their mission is to “bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic,” envisioning “an America with respectful embrace of political disagreements, where civic friendship flourishes and competing perspectives strengthen our nation.” With partners on both sides of the aisle, they are asking Americans to practice civility.

On October 17th, Braver Angels will present “Managing Difficult Conversations”, which is geared toward public officials and focused on how to have impactful conversations with folks you might disagree with. The goal is to show people who disagree with you that they have been heard, that you can find areas of common ground or agreement, and share your views in a way that is likely to be heard by the other person. What it is not intended to do is help you persuade someone that they are wrong or help in situations where individuals or groups are prepared to shut down real conversations.

Compromise isn’t easy – just ask Roger Sherman, author of the Connecticut Compromise that gave us our federal government – but it’s the way government usually works. People need to be able to talk to each other and expect that something will come of it. CCM wants to be part of the solution. It’s clear that the will is there with initiatives like the Civility Pledge. What is needed now are the tools to help foster constructive, respectful conversations, even if they are difficult conversations.

Be on the lookout for an email invite from CCM to participate in this workshop, and for more information, feel free to email Rick Porth at RPorth@ccm-ct.org.