Civility Is Not Agreement—It’s Respect: Founders Featured on SideBar Podcast

What does civility mean in a world of noise, division, and outrage?

For Institute for Civility co-founders Cassandra Dahnke and Tomas Spath, civility is more than just manners—it’s the foundation for meaningful change. In their recent feature on the SideBar podcast, they reflect on their 30-year journey advocating for civility in schools, workplaces, and government.

In the episode, they explore:

How they define civility (hint: it’s not about being “nice”)
Real stories of change across communities
What they’ve learned about reducing polarization
Why they remain hopeful—even in today’s climate

This conversation is a powerful reminder that civility is a skill we can teach, model, and share. And now more than ever, we need it.

Ready to listen?

Listen on SideBar

Read the Press Release

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