In this heartfelt episode, Penji’s Partnership coordinator, Daniela talks to Cassandra Dahkne from the Institute for Civility to discuss how their non-profit, founded in 1997, teaches essential civility skills to help people navigate disagreements constructively, from family discussions to international relations, fostering community and understanding.
Three things you’ll learn in this episode:
Defining and Practicing Civility as a Baseline of Respect: The Institute for Civility defines civility as "claiming and caring for one's identity, needs, and beliefs without degrading someone else's in the process." It's not about avoiding disagreement but learning to engage respectfully and constructively, even in highly charged situations, making it applicable from personal interactions to international diplomacy.
Addressing Divisions Through Self-Awareness and Understanding: The Institute's training emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own belief system ("know yourself") as the first step towards appreciating differing viewpoints. They highlight that conflicts often stem from varied experiences and backgrounds, and fostering curiosity and open-mindedness can transform disagreements into opportunities for growth and connection.
Empowering Youth and Promoting Dialogue in Civic Engagement: Programs like the Student Legislative Seminars take young people to Washington D.C. to learn about civic engagement and practice civil discourse directly with legislators. This hands-on experience teaches students to articulate their positions, respectfully engage with opposing views, and understand the complexities of collective decision-making, fostering a new generation of engaged and civil citizens.
About Cassandra Dahkne and Institute for Civility:
✨Sponsors✨
Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.
Enter code for 15% off your first month: UNIFIEDPURPOSE15