There are many ways to support the Civil Dialogues mission: Partner/Host, Sponsor, or Donate.
Your donation goes toward helping to defray the costs of planning, executing and traveling around the country to host our town halls that bring Americans together. There is no charge to attend our events.
Are you tired of yelling at your TV set? Have you resorted to trolling “the other” on social media? Are you no longer talking to “those” family members and friends?
If the answer is yes to any one of these questions, let alone all three, we invite you to reject the chaos and choose a better way. How about we figure out how to talk to each other so we can actually focus on solving our nation’s problems?
That’s what the democracy initiative, Civil Dialogues, is all about. Creating a safe space for community conversation on some of the important topics of the day, in partnership with presidential library foundations that represent both sides of the aisle.
Immigration. Media. Voting Rights. Energy and Climate. American Foreign Policy. Our Constitutional Democracy. And so much more…
No yelling. No vitriol. Just dialogue. And a focus on how we get our elected officials to do the same.
Americans listening, learning, engaging and yes, disagreeing, without fear of judgment or demonization. Keeping their eyes on the prize of a healthy, functioning democracy that works for us all.
At each Civil Dialogues town hall, we begin with historical perspective of the topic at hand. A moderator then guides a panel of subject experts, not elected officials, in conversation, and engages audience members with the panelists and each other. Participants also take part in facilitated conversations to literally practice how to talk with those on the other side.
The goal is for everyone to walk away with a better understanding of the topic’s nuances, each other’s different perspectives, potential steps to arrive at solutions, and shared trust that constructive dialogue across differences helps strengthen our democracy. They should also walk away with actionable tools to keep civil dialogue going within their personal and professional networks, as well as how to hold their elected representatives accountable.
Who came up with this ambitious idea? We did! Jean Becker, author and former chief of staff to President George H. W. Bush, and Linda Lorelle, entrepreneur, Emmy and Gracie Award-winning journalist and host of Our Voices Matter podcast.
We are grateful to our partners, the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, the George and Barbara Bush Presidential Library Foundation, the LBJ Library Foundation, the Clinton Presidential Center, the Baker Institute for Public Policy and Research, AllSides, and Living Room Conversations.
And we are grateful for the financial support you might provide to help us expand our efforts as we travel across America taking these town halls to your community.
Our country is at a pivotal moment. Regardless of the election outcome, our divisions will remain deep, and it’s up to us to repair them.
Please help Civil Dialogues reach as many Americans as possible in the days and years to come. Your donation today will reverberate throughout communities across our great country as we stitch together the tattered fabric of our democracy.
So, we invite you to stop yelling at your TV, stop trolling “the other” on social media, and start engaging in real conversation that has the power to bring us together.
Because a thriving democracy depends upon our ability to talk to each other.
Onward,
Linda & Jean
Civil Dialogues (EIN 99-4694429) is a Texas nonprofit organization operating under applicable state and federal laws. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The information provided herein is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional for specific guidance related to your situation.