Next Generation Civility Workshop Held For New Virginia State Legislators to Foster Bipartisanship and Civil Discourse
Richmond, VA – The National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD)‘s Next Generation program facilitated a Civility and Bipartisanship workshop for new members-elect of the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate. Next Generation, NICD’s state-level program aimed at improving collaboration and civility in legislatures.
Thom Little, NICD’s Next Generation Legislative Liason presented “Engaging Differences: A Practical Approach” during the new member orientation. Dr. Little explained the historic importance of civility and cooperation, encouraging the class of 35 new members to engage their differences rather than ignore them, to use these unique perspectives for the creation of policy rather than fueling discord, and to continue the United States and Virginia’s 250 year experiment in self-governance.
The workshop was the first Next Generation workshop for Virginia’s new state legislators, who will take office in January for an important legislative session characterized by the development of the state’s two-year budget and by single-seat majorities in both houses of the legislature. It is clear that cooperation is needed to productively work on behalf of Virginians, and Next Generation is proud to have helped equip new members with the tools they can use to collaborate civilly and effectively.
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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/.
