Empowering Dialogue: The Birth of the Institute for Civility

This chapter explores the experiences of two individuals in the 1990s who organized advocacy conferences focused on social justice, allowing participants to set their own agendas. Their journey led to the establishment of the Institute for Civility, driven by the need for constructive dialogue in a landscape increasingly marked by division. It also addresses the declining civility in public discourse and the challenges posed by cultural changes and a lack of civic education.