Civility isn’t just about holding doors or saying “please” and “thank you”—it’s about how we show respect, value others’ perspectives, and foster collaboration, especially in the workplace. With hybrid teams, diverse workforces, and fast-paced demands, maintaining a civil environment can make or break a company’s culture. Here’s why civility at work isn’t optional—it’s essential: 1….
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 today’s polarized climate, civility training is becoming increasingly crucial for fostering respectful and effective communication in diverse settings. The Institute for Civility is seeing a surge in requests for our programs as political, racial, gender, religious, and generational differences continue to spill over into the workplace. Organizations across various sectors—businesses, educational institutions, government bodies, and more—are seeking…
From June 1-6, the Institute for Civility proudly led its second Student Legislative Seminar of 2024, featuring enthusiastic students from Palacios and Wharton, TX high schools. Both schools have been valued participants in our program for many years, and this session was no exception in terms of impact and engagement. Despite the summer heat and…
March 2-7 saw twelve students and three teacher chaperones from Texas City High School in Washington, DC for one of the Institute’s Student Legislative Seminars. This is the 13th time Texas City has participated in this program, and with chaperones who have experienced the trip before on hand with us again, the trip just keeps…
If you were asked to pick a word of the year, what would it be? Since 2004, the Oxford English Dictionary has selected a Word of the Year. They select one “that is judged to reflect the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of that particular year and to have lasting potential as a word of cultural…
July 17-21 found myself and fellow co-founder Tomás Spath walking the halls of Congress again for the first time post-pandemic. It felt really good to be back. But you may wonder, why do we do that? We try to walk the halls every year for a number of reasons. First, and perhaps the most important,…
Same Mission, New Name The Institute for Civility in Government has simplified our name to the Institute for Civility. Our mission remains steadfast: to facilitate dialogue, teach respect, and build civility in both the public and private spheres. Our vision is to see a day when civility is the norm for all of us where…
Now that we are fortunate enough to be past the pandemic, the Institute is excited to be back to our full programming capabilities, and we are taking full advantage! This spring and summer we have been busier than ever! On April 12th we were delighted to take a Congressional Student Forum in person to a…
June 3-8 found us back in DC – this time with students from Palacios High School (TX) and Wharton High School (TX). This student trip was underwritten by two area foundations who like to focus their support on their local communities. It is through the generosity of these organizations that we have been able to…
