Summer Newsletter
2026

Dear Friends of the Center for Civil Discourse,

With Michigan’s primaries now behind us, there is much focus on the upcoming mid-term elections. Election season can be intense, especially when the rhetoric between candidates heats up. It is likely we will each hear something that challenges us!

 

Thinking in advance about how one will respond to such challenges can increase the capacity to respond in a way one feels good about. What helps you pause? What supports do you need in place to take a deep breath when the moment makes you internally scream? 

When my children were younger, I sometimes gave them an item that could serve as a transitional object—a tangible object that helped comfort them during times of separation. Often, I chose something like an old t-shirt because it had my scent on it and their deep breaths could include the familiar smell of mom and home. Whether it was the first day of kindergarten, a sleep over with a friend, or summer camp, there were times when having the comfort of home helped them face new experiences.

What if the idea of transitional objects were a metaphor for adult use? What might help a person feel anchored in support yet open to new ideas and experiences? These “bridging items” help people pause, take a deep breath, and consider what is new before them. My bridging items are not physical objects but rather things I experience: Music, art, nature, sports, etc. When I recall the feeling I get when looking at a painting or hearing music, for example, my body relaxes, and once more relaxed, I can be more curious.

Bridging items can help people create space between hearing something challenging and deciding how to respond. Yesterday, I walked past a painting in my home and stopped to lose myself in the scene. This was my pause as I reflected about a situation in which I am struggling to voice my opinion. As I was absorbing the beauty of the painting, I remembered to take deep breaths. I walked away from the painting feeling more resourced and capable of wondering about the other person’s perspective.

As the election season heats up, I invite us to think about how we can each resource ourselves with bridging items. Consider what helps you feel calmer and be in choice for how you respond. Might it be a song? A photograph? A special keepsake? Whatever the “item,” how might it serve as an effective bridge between hearing a challenging comment and choosing your response?

Imagine what might shift if everyone in the country felt resourced and able to pause before responding. From a civil discourse perspective, each conversation we have contributes to the tone of the country.

Wishing you peace and wellness,

Lisa

Imagine being able to have a constructive and productive conversation with someone whose perspective differs, perhaps even clashes, with your own.

Braver Angels, a volunteer-led movement to bridge partisan divides, offers people a novel way to meet and talk with someone who has a different perspective from one's own. 

What is a Braver Angels's 1:1 Conversation?

The process involves one or two hour-long conversations between two people using a structured conversation guide. The goals are to better understand the experiences, feelings, and beliefs of the other person, discover any areas of commonality, and share ideas for how to bridge differences across the country.

Conversation Types

The Golden Rule: Connecting people from different states for a discussion about The Golden Rule.

Red/Blue: Connecting one conservative and one liberal/progressive to share what each believe and want for the country.

Rural/Urban: Connecting one rural or small-town dweller with one person from an urban or suburban area to better understand each other’s worlds.

Conversations About Race, Ethnicity, Culture: Connecting two people from different racial, ethnic or cultural groups.

Conversations Across Generations: Connecting one person 18-30 years old with one person 61+ years old.

Ready to Give it a Try?

What questions or reflections do you have about having challenging conversations?

SUBMITTED REFLECTION

I am afraid of political violence during the upcoming mid-term elections. I am not a leader or an activist, and I don't like politics much. There is a lot of noise in politics these days. I pray for peace. 

I honestly don't know if civil discourse is realistic. 

RESPONSE

Thank you for sharing your reflection. We appreciate your honesty and hear your skepticism. Wondering whether civil discourse is realistic makes sense during times of heightened polarization such as now. 

At the Center, we take listening to people seriously. Our desire is to better understand what people are saying. Like a conversation between two individuals, our listening requires hearing what the other person hopes to be understood. Listening is not about hearing in order to persuade—it calls for the listener to stop speaking and to allow space for the other person's voice.

We hear your hope for peace. We hear your uncertainty about the possibility of civil discourse. And we hear your fear around political violence this election season. 

Perhaps your reflection will inspire others to share what is on their minds as well. 

We are listening.

The Civil Discourse Team

12th Annual

Civil Discourse Symposium

At a time when digital platforms increasingly shape public discourse, the need to reflect on how to foster healthy dialogue has never been more urgent. Please join us for a community conversation about the civic role of digital literacy skills as an ethical practice and responsibility to foster constructive discourse.

The Center's team is available for a variety of speaking engagements.

You can expect presentations to be:

~  Personalized and tailored to your group's interests

~  Grounded in current data

~  Scholarly yet pragmatic

~  Non-partisan and ideologically balanced

 

 

Need more information?  Reach out to us today at civildiscourse@gvsu.edu or (616)331-8044.

 

 

Thank you to Grace and Clarence Joldersma for saying hello from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada!

What have you appreciated about this summer?

Send us your photos and stories. We'd love to hear from you!

 

Civildiscourse@gvsu.edu

Check out our resources for bridge-building and engaging in conversations across difference. Have a resource to share? Let us know what we could add to the list!

William Ury explains how listening is the essential, and often overlooked, half of communication. His stories of candid conversations with presidents and business leaders provide us with impactful lessons, such as understanding the power of a human mind opening up. He asks us to join a listening revolution, and promises that if we all listen a little bit more, we can transform any relationship. [15:41 minutes]

Ex Officio
Shelley Padnos: Center Founder
Carol Sarosik: Center Founder

Advisory Council

Jessica Collette: Founder & CEO of Float Above Ventures

Dan Cope: Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Faculty Fellow

Annette Gonzalez-Vazquez: Communications & Outreach Specialist, PSCCD

Ed Karls: Community Member; Co-chair, Braver Angels Alliance of Washtenaw County, MI

Alex Priebe: Assistant Director Digital Engagement & Communications , GVSU                        

James Rademaker: General Manager, WGVU Public Media

Faye Richardson-Green: Committed Community Steward

Milt Rowher: Community Member (retired business leader)

Tamela Spicer: Founder & Principal at The Intentional Catalyst

Aaron Turner: Vice President of Philanthropy, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Greg Warsen: Graduate Program Director & Faculty, Educational Leadership , GVSU

Susie Ziegler: Director of Philanthropy, GVSU

Give to support bridge-building programs for students...

And be part of depolarizing our communities.

Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse
LMH Suite 167
Office: (616) 331-8044
Email: civildiscourse@gvsu.edu