Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. David Burstein, Founder & Executive Director of Generation18 and author of Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping Our World

Read Rep. John Duncan's (R-TN) thoughts on civility in public discourse.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Left to right: Korva Coleman of NPR, Andrew Green of The Baltimore Sun, author Henry Alford, and David Frum of Newsweek at the Choose Civility Symposium held at the HCLS Miller Branch on October 11, 2012.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

NFL referee Terry McAulay during his talk: "Emotional Intelligence in Sports" at HCLS Miller branch. A Choose Civility event.

Credit: Paul Morse / Clinton Global Initiative

Solutions without Borders: Working with Unlikely Allies - CGI U 2013

In an age of increasing global interdependence, the challenges facing the world require more than economic or technological solutions alone: they also require cooperation, civility, and trust. Countless students and social innovators are working across traditional boundaries of nation, class, religion, and worldview to create transformative social change. Israeli and Palestinian entrepreneurs are partnering to launch a wind power company in the disputed territories; Democrats and Republicans continue to work together to fund PEPFAR and boost the availability of antiretrovirals around the world; and youth living in conflict-ridden zones from Northern Ireland to the West Bank are building unity through the power of sports. Expanding on these efforts, how can students put aside their own agendas, work with unlikely allies, and build more effective partnerships with their commitments? What are the real and even dangerous challenges that arise when working beyond traditional cultural, religious, political, or economic boundaries? This panel will convene notable entrepreneurs and policymakers who are proving the value of cooperation over conflict.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer speaking with attendees at an event titled "Arizona Talks: Civility, Democracy, and Politics" at Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Proud promo bumper sticker for the Democrat Party doesn't bother telling you the rest of the story. Well, here it is. No jobs, no ethics, no transparency, no civility; failed energy policies and poor economy. While we're at it no hope or change either.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. David Burstein, Founder & Executive Director of Generation18 and author of Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping Our World

This Master Series session discussed the varied ways incivility wrecks performance and robs organizations' bottom line. It also focused on understanding the costs and benefits of civility, reflecting on how civil you are and linking the consequences to your actions, and learning the fundamentals of civility as well as what you can put into play to enhance your communication and influence. #SHRM18 Photo by: Anne Ryan

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. David Burstein, Founder & Executive Director of Generation18 and author of Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping Our World

Mike Broomhead speaking with attendees at an event titled "Arizona Talks: Civility, Democracy, and Politics" at Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

HCLS First Public Library in Maryland to Add Living Books to Collection as part of The Human Library™

Howard County Library System (HCLS) will become the first public library system in Maryland to give its customers the opportunity to borrow Living Books. The Human Library™ will be open on Saturday, March 11 from 1 to 5 pm at HCLS Miller Branch located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. Framed around the adage “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,” the new initiative encourages participants to look beyond stereotypes and engage in meaningful dialogue. The goal is to foster a positive framework where open, one-on-one, honest conversations lead to greater understanding and acceptance in the community.

The HCLS Human Library will include Living Books from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and identities. Among the books will be a United States veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, a transgender man, and a person living with Bipolar Disorder. Readers will sign up on a first-come basis to “borrow” the books at the Miller Branch, for a fifteen minute, one-on-one conversation to gain insight into their particular experiences and the often marginalizing stigma attached.

The Human Library is an international, innovative approach to challenging stigma, stereotypes, and prejudices through non-confrontational and respectful conversation. It is intended to be a welcoming, inclusive, non-partisan space where difficult questions are expected, appreciated, and answered. There is no political agenda. HCLS is striving to grow its collection of Living Books and expand the number of opportunities for readers to visit throughout the year.

The HCLS Human Library is part of this year’s Choose Civility initiative, Kindness Creates Community. It is presented in partnership with the Howard County Office of Human Rights and #OneHoward.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. HCLS President & CEO Valerie Gross.

Lea Berman and Jeremy Bernard sign books for Esther Murguia Garcia and Vickie Blumhagen.

On Wednesday, Jan. 24th, 2018, the LBJ Presidential Library presented “An Evening With Lea Berman and Jeremy Bernard.” Both are former White House Social Secretaries. They discussed their book, Treating People Well: The Extraordinary Power of Civility at Work and in Life. The conversation was moderated by Ambassador Capricia Marshall, the former Chief of Protocol of the United States under President Barack Obama (2009-2013), a position that carries the rank of Ambassador. Marshall previously served as White House Social Secretary for President Bill Clinton (1997-2001).

Lea Berman was social secretary for President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush, and Jeremy Bernard was social secretary for President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Their book is an entertaining and uniquely practical guide to personal and professional success. Their daily experiences at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue taught them valuable lessons about how to work productively with people from different walks of life and points of view.

LBJ Library photo by Jay Godwin 01/24/2018

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

HCLS First Public Library in Maryland to Add Living Books to Collection as part of The Human Library™

Howard County Library System (HCLS) will become the first public library system in Maryland to give its customers the opportunity to borrow Living Books. The Human Library™ will be open on Saturday, March 11 from 1 to 5 pm at HCLS Miller Branch located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. Framed around the adage “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover,” the new initiative encourages participants to look beyond stereotypes and engage in meaningful dialogue. The goal is to foster a positive framework where open, one-on-one, honest conversations lead to greater understanding and acceptance in the community.

The HCLS Human Library will include Living Books from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and identities. Among the books will be a United States veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, a transgender man, and a person living with Bipolar Disorder. Readers will sign up on a first-come basis to “borrow” the books at the Miller Branch, for a fifteen minute, one-on-one conversation to gain insight into their particular experiences and the often marginalizing stigma attached.

The Human Library is an international, innovative approach to challenging stigma, stereotypes, and prejudices through non-confrontational and respectful conversation. It is intended to be a welcoming, inclusive, non-partisan space where difficult questions are expected, appreciated, and answered. There is no political agenda. HCLS is striving to grow its collection of Living Books and expand the number of opportunities for readers to visit throughout the year.

The HCLS Human Library is part of this year’s Choose Civility initiative, Kindness Creates Community. It is presented in partnership with the Howard County Office of Human Rights and #OneHoward.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. NPR’s Korva Coleman.

The Washington DC Chapter receiving the Civility Star Award, accepted by chapter President Adrianne J. McQuillan, for the members helping with the Civility Counts Project. Honoring Members: Yasmin Anderson-Smith, AICI CIP, Cindy Ann Peterson, AICI FLC, Pat Locke, AICI FLC and (Not in Photo) Annette Harris,AICI FLC and Bonnie Rogers, AICI FLC.

Photo credit: Bob Howard

With an immigration bill filed in the Senate by the "Gang of 8" led by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the Village Square took on the issue in its Dinner at the Square series on Tuesday, April 23rd with “Immigration and the American Melting Pot."

Find information about the panel and an audio of the program online here:

wiki.tothevillagesquare.org/x/MgBaAQ

Find The Village Square online here: www.tothevillagesquare.org

Too Big To Fail - Too Small To Matter

All Bollocksed Up?

America + The World In the Age of Trump + Brexit

A Conversation With

Dr. Justin Gest

Author of "The New Minority: White Working Class Politics in an Age of Immigration and Inequality"

Hosted by The Village Square

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

St. John's Episcopal Church

Tallahassee, Florida

Fore more details and the program audio recording: tlh.villagesquare.us/event/post-brexit/

NFL referee Terry McAulay during his talk: "Emotional Intelligence in Sports" at HCLS Miller branch. A Choose Civility event.

To celebrate the public service career of former Democratic City Commissioner (now Ambassador to Portugal) Allan Katz, Victoria Vangalis Zepp was kind enough to become a Sarah Palin stand in for the occasion. Then cue up Allan's good friend Republican County Commissioner Bryan Desloge, Dominic Calabro and his Florida TaxWatch turkeys, and tada.. we've got a Village Square film shoot. You can see the final product on our YouTube site: www.youtube.com/thevillagesquare

(David Shankbone)

Mike Broomhead speaking with attendees at an event titled "Arizona Talks: Civility, Democracy, and Politics" at Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. David Burstein, Founder & Executive Director of Generation18 and author of Fast Future: How the Millennial Generation is Shaping Our World

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. NPR’s Korva Coleman.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. NPR’s Korva Coleman.

Coding for Community: Civility Hackathon held at HCLS Miller Branch.

Photo credit: Bob Howard

With an immigration bill filed in the Senate by the "Gang of 8" led by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the Village Square took on the issue in its Dinner at the Square series on Tuesday, April 23rd with “Immigration and the American Melting Pot."

Find information about the panel and an audio of the program online here:

wiki.tothevillagesquare.org/x/MgBaAQ

Find The Village Square online here: www.tothevillagesquare.org

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer speaking with attendees at an event titled "Arizona Talks: Civility, Democracy, and Politics" at Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. NPR’s Korva Coleman.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. NPR’s Korva Coleman.

6/17/2013 - STAMFORD, CT - Texas Governor Rick Perry delivers a speech on civility at the Ferguson Library as part of an ongoing speaker series

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer speaking with attendees at an event titled "Arizona Talks: Civility, Democracy, and Politics" at Greenwood Brewing in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.

Choose Civility Symposium 2013 held at the HCLS Miller Branch.

OMG to AARP: Bridging the Multigenerational Divide. Rep. Elijah Cummings.