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. 

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.