Spitfire and Kristen Grimm have launched a new project, Best-Case Scenario, to strengthen our social norm for safe and sound civic spaces that are free of violence and threats of violence for everyone, everywhere -- from libraries and school boards to city council and campuses to voting booths.
Civic spaces are essential. Efforts to solve homelessness, address climate change and reform big systems like criminal justice and education require community engagement from hearings to public comment sessions. We want people to engage. But if these community engagement efforts trigger divisive and violent reactions (think of book banning and the politics over just using the bathroom), this will have a chilling effect on the very people we want to engage.
We can have violence-free, safe and sound civic spaces. In a time of increasing division, some are planning for the worst-case scenario. We must not forget the best-case scenario is still possible and plan to make that our reality. To strengthen the norm of nonviolence, we need leaders across academia, civil society, government and the private sector to see this as a core part of their leadership.
Using resources from experts who know how to de-escalate and cool temperatures, Spitfire and Kristen will share out lessons learned. First up is seven actions leaders can take to build civil discourse not discord.
https://lnkd.in/eU3A4J5e
It's such a great tool!