The Urgency of CivilityYou are invited to attend a convening of organizations engaged in improving civility within our world. This important session is intended to open conversations around our various goals, and how we can leverage the strengths of each, while remaining independent.Civility is rapidly disappearing in our society today. The rapid-fire exchange of information on our “social” media and the lack of fact checking by both the public and the media leads to inflammatory messages (often called “flames”) which frequently go viral before they can be stopped. “Civility” is a goal of many organizations throughout the free world. This Urgency of Civility conference is an opportunity for many of them to engage in productive dialogue with the goal of enhancing the good work of these groups, spreading their reach through potential cooperative projects, and creating a higher awareness of the Civility Movement. How can you (and/or your organization) contribute and profit from this two- day convening? What can you share that will stimulate others to action? Join us and help bring Civility back to Society.CivilityConvening.orgCCO_d0318ed4-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab165Civility Convening SponsorsThis event is sponsored by the following groups:George Washington Masonic National MemorialThe George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a memorial and museum, an active Masonic temple, a research library, a cultural space, a community and performing arts center, and an important regional landmark.Institute for Civility in GovernmentWe are a grassroots, non-partisan, non-profit organization that is building civility in a society that all too often seems tilted toward uncivil speech and actions. The Institute does not endorse any political candidate, nor do we take a position on any issue. We are about process, not positions. Not a think tank, and not a watchdog organization, we serve as a catalyst for change.The Institute for Civil DialogueThe Institute for Civil Dialogue, a non profit organization, was founded to contain the works, the ownership and the future of how our citizenry might use Civil Dialogue for its good. Living Room ConversationsLiving Room Conversations is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 as a result of a transpartisan partnership focused on revitalizing civil discourse through conversation.DEPRINCE, RACE & ZOLLO, INC. INVESTMENT ADVISORSNational Coalition for Dialogue & DeliberationThe National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is a network of innovators who bring people together across divides to tackle today’s toughest challenges. NCDD serves as a gathering place, a resource clearinghouse, a news source, and a facilitative leader for this extraordinary community.Bridge AllianceThe Bridge Alliance is a coalition of more than 90 organizations working together as active stewards of our democratic republic. Bridge Alliance member organizations span the ideological spectrum, but are unified to work efficiently, outside arbitrarily defined political lines. Currently, we define the work of our members as residing in three sectors: 1. Civic Engagement 2. Electoral Systems and Campaigns 3. Governance and Policy MakingNational Institute for Civil DiscourseThe National Institute for Civil Discourse integrates research, practice and policy to support and engage: * Elected officials who are capable of working to solve the big issues facing our country. * A public that demands civil discourse as well as government that works in the best interests of the country as a whole. * A media that informs citizens in a fair and responsible way.Oakland Durant Rockridge Masonic LodgeOakland Durant Rockridge Masonic Lodge 188 Free and Accepted Masons of California.KING DAVID'S LODGE OF SAN LUIS OBISPOWashington Masonic CharitiesWashington Masonic Charities invests in youth and education, provides comfort and support for seniors and those in need, and to preserve and share the Masonic heritage of Washington State. Washington Masonic Charities is the 501 c 3 incorporating and overseeing all of the charitable activities of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington Free and Accepted Masons.Civility Convening ParticipantsConference tracks will focus on the following stakeholder groups:Government StakeholdersEducation StakeholdersWorkplace StakeholdersMediasocial and publicFamiliesCommunitiesWith these new learnings, we can dramatically increase the probability of our collective effectiveness._d031914a-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab165To positively impact current civility initiatives through the discovery of common understandings._d031921c-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab165CivilityConversationsGoalsLeverageStrengthsIndependenceLearningCollective EffectivenessPromotion & LeverageCross-promote and leverage existing civility initiatives_d03192d0-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1651Dialogue & LearningEngage in an active and constructive dialogue and learning_d031938e-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1651.1Living Room ConversationsLiving Room Conversations create the opportunity to practice and hone skills in listening, understanding, and connecting to one another. By using them, we are creating a world in which people who have fundamental differences of opinion and backgrounds learn to work together with respect--and even joy--to realize the vibrant future we all desire for ourselves and our families.CommunitiesBreakouts: Civility in Communities: (90 minutes): Experience a Living Room Conversation so that you can share it in your community. In addition to the Living Room Conversation on Peacebuilding that you will experience today, we have almost 100 topics and conversation guides to choose from. Listening deeply to each other in small conversation groups is a powerful way to begin to connect, better enabling us to create the kinds of communities we all desire.Wednesday, May 1, 2019 -- 8:30 - 10:15 AM Plenary -- In this morning plenary, Living Room Conversations will describe how they are scaling up to meet the growing call to restore relationships locally and nationally. They provide an easy, free, do-it-yourself structure for engaging in friendly yet meaningful conversation with those with whom we may not agree. These conversations increase understanding, often reveal common ground, and sometimes even allow us to discuss possible solutions.StrategiesDesign strategies to clarify and create a more legitimate viable product to build and improve civility in our world_d0319442-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1652InitiativesBecome more aware and familiar with current civility initiatives_d0319500-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1652.1CapacityBuild capacity within organizations and individuals actively engaged in the broad spectrum of civility_d03195c8-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1653RelationshipsCreate strong relationships within this space_d03196ae-64b4-11e9-b170-765ce9aab1653.12019-04-302019-05-012019-04-22http://civilityconvening.org/front-page-features/conference-overview/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net