Returning to Washington’s Joint Committee on Civic Health
Olympia, Washington – Thom Little joined members of Washington’s Joint Committee on Civic Health for a presentation about the relationship-building efforts that can sustain successful legislation in divided and polarized times. Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor began the Project for Civic Health to demonstrate the powerful common ground Washingtonians have and act together against divisiveness. The Joint Committee was formed to unite legislators from both chambers as they work to bolster healthy civic engagement.
Next Generation’s Director Dr. Thom Little was asked to share Next Generation’s lessons and model for improving collaboration among state legislators to members of the Joint Committee on civic health. At the discussion, Thom emphasized the need to truly trust and know each other as colleagues and as people. In the world of politics, we can let first impressions or party identifications define our entire understanding of someone else. These false impressions can convince legislators that members of the other party won’t agree with them, so they may not even ask. By getting to know the experiences that shaped another person, we let them define themselves in our eyes, and the result is stronger connections of trust between elected officials. After building trust through civil discourse, Next Generation programming focuses on the “how” of successfully legislating together. Through budget negotiation exercises, lawmakers are assigned a role and must work across tangible policy differences assigned to each
By getting to know the experiences that shaped another person, we let them define themselves in our eyes, and the result is stronger connections of trust between elected officials. After building trust through civil discourse, Next Generation programming focuses on the “how” of successfully legislating together. Through budget negotiation exercises, lawmakers are assigned a role and must work across assigned policy differences to build a passable budget for the state. The fictional scenario develops real skills that every legislator needs for their state’s success.
We hope to return to Washington State as the Project for Civic Health continues, and wish the legislators good luck in the session ahead of them!
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About NICD, the National Institute for Civil Discourse
NICD works to build the nation’s capacity to engage our differences constructively. In 2011, the University of Arizona created NICD after the Tucson shooting that killed six people and wounded another thirteen, including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In the weeks prior to the shooting, Congresswoman Giffords was already in discussion with the University of Arizona about creating a center that would focus on improving the quality of discourse. The galvanizing power of that event brought together founding honorary co-chairs George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and an impressive bipartisan group of other leaders to honor Congresswoman Giffords’ vision.
Next Generation is one of NICD’s most important programs that creates and strengthens bipartisan relationships through mutual, trust-based, and effective communication in state legislatures around the country.
NICD offers Americans a variety of opportunities and resources to engage differences constructively at https://civildiscourseinstitute.org/.
