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Are you feeling the impact of the increasing polarization and incivility in our country? Has it influenced relationships with friends, family or co-workers here in our Valley?

I know that my fellow Skagitonians are people who would absolutely come to my aid if my family or neighborhood were to experience a crisis or disaster. And yet, it can be challenging to have “certain conversations” with some of these same people who hold perspectives that differ from mine. What is it about disasters that can bring us together – and yet solving more everyday problems seems to drive a wedge between us? Can we find ways to do better as we face the future together?

The League of Women Voters and the Dispute Resolution Center of Skagit County have teamed up to offer a series of events related to Civil Discourse and Large-Scale Problem Solving. The initial meeting will be on May 5, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy, 2205 West Campus Place, on the edge of Skagit Valley College’s campus in Mount Vernon.

This first meeting will explore: What is Civil Discourse? Is civility important in our community? If so, whose job is it? Amy Young, a professor at Pacific Lutheran University will be the keynote speaker. She will discuss the history of civility and incivility, and a panel of leaders in our community will discuss these and related topics. There will also be an opportunity for participants to express their thoughts, concerns and hopes about Civil Discourse and how we interact with each other to solve community problems

During the summer months, there will be a series four of skill-building events offered to include topics such as: An Overview of Conflict Resolution; Self-Awareness and the Physiology of Conflict; Issue Awareness and Patterns in Groups and Communities; and Negotiations and Principled Approaches to Conflict. Each meeting is designed to stand alone, so no need to commit to a whole series.

Then the third phase of this Civil Discourse project will be an all-day actual facilitated civil discourse on October 6 around a “sticky” issue facing Skagit County, putting theories to work.

The Advisory Committee for this non-partisan project includes Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreaux, Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton, Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere, Sedro Woolley Mayor Julia Johnson, County Commissioner Lisa Janicki, Dr. Dave Paul (Skagit Valley College), Honorable Jenifer Howson (Skagit County District Court Commissioner), Bill Bruch (Chairman, Skagit County Republican Party), Robert Doll (Chairman, Skagit County Democrats), Rev. Helen McPeak (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Mount Vernon) and Ray de Vries (Owner, Ralph’s Garden organic farm, Mount Vernon).

We hope you’ll join us for many of these sessions – to continue to build bridges within our community as we work and live together in our precious valley.

Wende Sanderson is a recent member of the League of Women Voters and a long-time certified mediator with the Dispute Resolution Center