What is the Civility Project?
It is a conversation aimed at uncovering
the layers of hurt, distrust and
misunderstanding that underlie our
disconnectedness. It has the intention
of challenging us to examine ourselves
in an effort to move us from tolerance
to empathy. It is designed to allow us
to open up to another perspective and
widen the lens in which we process our
views. Alverno students, faculty and
staff are encouraged to participate.
Who is the Wisconsin Council of
Churches?
The WCC is an organization of Christian
denominations throughout Wisconsin.
They are a group committed to
peacemaking, economic justice and
addressing the needs of the voiceless
and the more vulnerable residents of
Wisconsin. (www.wichurches.org)
What is the Center of Courage
and Renewal?
It is an organization founded by
Dr. Parker J. Palmer in 1997. It was
designed as a place to renew
educators. It has grown over the years
on leadership. The programs are
designed to promote listening and
leading with integrity. They are a
source of profound inspiration and
provide a way for leaders to sustain
themselves in the challenges of
the world. (www.couragerenewal.org)
Session 1
An understanding that we are all in
this together
October 29, 2013
Session 2
Developing an appreciation of the
value of “otherness”
November 19, 2013
Session 3
Cultivating the ability to hold tension
in life-giving ways
February 6, 2014
Session 4
Generating a sense of personal voice
and agency
March 13, 2014
Session 5
Strengthening our capacity to create
community
April 10, 2014
All sessions take place from
6-8 p.m.
Locations to be provided upon
registration.
Please visit our website to register:
www.alverno.edu/campuslife/civility project
Healing the
Heart of
Democracy
Circles
based on
BACKGROUND AND
INVITATION
SESSION 1
A sense of personal voice and agency
During the 2013-14 academic school
year Alverno’s Civility Project is working
with the Alverno Community
Conference. The theme is the “Art of
Happiness”. The guest speaker this
year is Dr. Parker J. Palmer. He is the
author of “Healing the Heart of
Democracy: The Courage to Create a
Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit”. In
our effort to continue to build on the
theme of his book and promoting civility
we are using the study circle guides
prepared by the Wisconsin Council of
Churches in their effort to promote a
“Season of Civility”. The guides were
designed in collaboration with the
Center for Courage and Renewal.
An understanding that we are all in this
together
The study circles are centered on the
Five Habits of the Heart outlined in
Dr. Palmer’s book. With the work of
the WCC, over 300 individuals have
been trained to use the study circles
to promote healthy and thought
provoking conversations in
congregations across Wisconsin. The
Civility Project is bringing that
dialogue to Alverno College. It is our
intention to create safe space for
those who are seeking more in depth
and meaningful ways to be in dialogue
with one another amidst our different
points of view.
Dr. Palmer asserts that we spend most of
our lives in “tribes” or lifestyle enclaves.
How do we begin to overcome the “us”
versus “them” way of viewing one
another? How is hospitality extended to
everyone, especially those we have
labeled as the stranger?
We hope that you will take some time
to come join us in these
conversations. It offers us a path to
healing our wounds.
SESSION 4
Although we celebrate our individualism
we are all profoundly connected to one
another. This is a conversation on our
dependence on one another including
those we most often refer to as “the
stranger or the other”.
SESSION 2
An appreciation of the value of
“otherness”
SESSION 3
An ability to hold tension in life giving
ways
How do we learn to stand in the gap
between our behavior and our convictions?
How do we allow our brokenness to open
us rather than tear us apart?
How do we exercise our ability to
speak and act on those things that
matter to us most? Can we challenge
ourselves to find the courage to
exercise our voice in authentic ways?
SESSION 5
A capacity to create community
How do we take our voice, lift it up
and plant the seeds for community to
effectively make a change?
As you can see each habit builds upon
the previous one culminating in a
dialogue on creating community. The
conversation is not only about how
we can be civil with one another but
how can we help to make our
community one that embraces
everyone and cultivates that spirit of
connectedness that unites us all.