Empowering voters by enhancing communication
Our current political climate has devolved into heated and sometimes violent exchanges between Americans with opposing views. Critical issues need to be addressed together if we expect to maintain our way of life. How do we expand a culture of respect for the voices of all, and encourage debate around what we want and why? Learning communication practices that can bridge the political chasm dividing many of us can lead to needed solutions-oriented discussions and empower civic participation.
Looking for common ground and shared values
Civic conversation is a form of participation driven by desire for education, for mutual understanding, for identifying shared values, and/or for knowing about diverse perspectives. It can result in opportunities to build good, trusted relationships across differences and to plan actions for positive community change. It is essential to have a process that models the core LWV values of non-partisanship and welcoming/encouraging of diverse citizen voices and experiences in order to promote democratic civic expression through education, advocacy, and voting.
How we began
In late 2023, the League of Women Voters in Martin County, FL, launched a new initiative to bring Martin County citizens together and build capacity for respectful, constructive, creative dialogue about local civic issues, consistent with the League’s focus on inclusion and non-partisanship. The initiative, called Imagine Democracy, sparked the interest of Debbie Chandler, the Co-President of the Florida LWV, who attended the first Imagine Democracy summit and asked if we might train other League chapters in the approach.
Major Milestones of LWVMC Imagine Democracy (ID) Initiative
Nov. 2023 Idea is presented to LWV by Nelle Brown (who has been leading a Civil Civic Conversations group (“C3”) in her local community in Hobe Sound for 10 years) and adopted by LWVMC board as a new core initiative.
Dec. 2023 Imagine Democracy interviews local leaders to vet idea. It gains strong support. LWVMC recruits LWV volunteer team to support the initiative; Bliss Browne, founder of Imagine Chicago (www.imaginechicago.org) and a civic engagement /community building expert now living in Hobe Sound, is recruited (by her sister Nelle) to design and lead the community summit and capacity building trainings.
Jan. 2024 In hopes of attracting young people, Imagine Democracy training is provided to Youth in Government student leaders. Middle school students are invited to create a Landscape of Hope mural at ArtsFest in Stuart that becomes the inspiring backdrop for the Imagine Democracy summit the following week. Outreach continues at ArtsFest.
Presidents’ Day 2024 First Imagine Democracy community dialogue (100 participants) Focus: To build capacity locally for constructive civic conversation by sharing visions for Martin County’s future, the strengths and challenges of democracy, and appreciative, strength-based communication practices that build community.
May 2024 Follow up capacity building training on The Art of the Question (20+ participants)
June 2024 Follow up capacity building training on How to Listen Well (20+ participants)
Presidents’ Day 2025 Second ID community dialogue, Activating Democracy (100 people) Focus: To empower and connect LWVMC members by discovering and connecting their strengths, skills, and interests and using them to direct the coming year’s LWV local work and organizational development.
Want to get started in your Local League with Imagine Democracy?
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