Campus and Community

Civility Project to hold first ‘Civility Day’ conference at OU October 25

Day-long event aims to bring people with opposing viewpoints together

icon of a calendarOctober 5, 2022

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Civility Project to hold first ‘Civility Day’ conference at OU October 25
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The Great Lakes Civility Project, which aims to build civility by teaching people to listen to and understand one another, is expanding from its introductory sessions to host its first “Civility Day” conference on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Oakland University in Rochester, Mich. 

The day-long event will feature a series of panel discussions, led by founders and renowned journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson, as well as experts and politicians, to give individuals a chance to immerse in civility-building and try out tips and tactics. 

Speakers and moderators include U.S. Representatives Fred Upton and Debbie Dingell, professors Dr. Anthony Perry, Dr. Tim Kiska and Dr. David Dulio, and lawyer Abed Hammoud. They will also include Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld from the Zekelman Holocaust Center, Barbara L. Jones from Wayne State University’s Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Glenn McIntosh from Oakland University, Lisa Nguyen from Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, and Gary Torgow from Huntington National Bank.

“The last decade has been one of the most politically and emotionally divisive in American history, and as we get closer to midterm elections, those tensions will continue to rise,” Henderson said. “Confrontation happens when civility breaks down, and it’s more important than ever for Americans to be able work through disagreements in a respectful, productive manner.”

“A huge part of civility requires seeing the other person as human and trying to understand where they are coming from,” Finley said. “Our goal is to teach people how to truly listen to one another to move past conflict and work together more effectively. You don’t have to agree - but listening to understand is key.” 

Sessions include:

  • Opening Session + Civility in Action with Stephen Henderson, Nolan Finley, and Oakland University Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, Glenn McIntosh, moderated by Margaret Trimer from Delta Dental of Michigan

  • Having Difficult Political Conversations with Fred Upton and Rep. Debbie Dingell, moderated by Lisa Nguyen, Delta Dental Senior Special Projects and Public Relations Officer, Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson.

The conference will take place from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Oakland University’s Oakland Center at 312 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester, Mich. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. The first 100 participants will attend free of charge, courtesy of a sponsorship from Delta Dental.

Additional Civility Day sponsors include Huntington Bank and Oakland University. 

Registration and additional information are available at https://calendar.oakland.edu/polisci/event/5791.

About the Great Lakes Civility Project

Detroit journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson founded The Civility Project in 2020 to bring people with opposing viewpoints together and teach them the tools to have civil conversations, explore civic discourse without animosity, and learn how to listen productively. The program grew out of their unusual and unlikely friendship, as they figured out how they had built a successful and productive relationship while holding opposing perspectives on almost everything. Funded by Delta Dental and Huntington Bank, the Civility Project brings virtual and live workshops to teach people how to have healthy disagreement and constructive dialogue. At the core of these programs is the belief that incivility is both unproductive and potentially dangerous. Civility requires seeing another person as a human beyond their political stance, and trying to understand where they’re coming from. Since its founding in 2020, the Civility Project has hosted nearly 100 workshops for more than 7,500 people in audiences across America, giving people an opportunity to practice the techniques that Stephen and Nolan teach in real time. Learn more at Great Lakes Civility Project.


About Oakland University  

Oakland University is a doctoral, Carnegie Classification R2 “High Research Activity” university located in Oakland and Macomb counties, Michigan. The main campus is located on 1,443 acres of scenic land in the Southeast Michigan cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills. Oakland University offers bachelor's degrees, graduate degrees and certificate programs, and is dedicated to delivering a distinctive college experience. Oakland University is organized into the College of Arts and Sciences (which includes a School of Music, Theatre and Dance), the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and the Schools of Business Administration, Education and Human Services, Engineering and Computer Science, Health Sciences, Nursing, and The Honors College. At Oakland, the student experience is enhanced as students work alongside inspired faculty and community mentors in laboratory, field and corporate workplace settings. Students enjoy small class sizes, countless research and social opportunities, and a high rate of job placement after graduation. In fact, 99 percent of OU graduates stay and work in the state. This rich campus atmosphere is complete with residence halls, Greek life, Division I athletics and more than 250 student groups that lend to the total college experience. Learn more at www.oakland.edu.

 

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