Friday, July 21, 2017

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture sent this bulletin at 07/21/2017 03:36 PM EDT

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Summer 2017

Walking the Talk

The Challenge

The Extension Committee on Policy (ECOP) has identified numerous concerns related to the current lack of civility and civil dialogue in our nation. Their Rapid Response Team on Civil Dialogue cites the importance of dialogue for understanding how and when it can be used to successfully move a community forward to address complex or difficult issues. Group discussion and civil dialogue has played a central role in Extension’s history. As a grassroots, knowledge-sharing and relationship building program, Extension’s work is strengthened by its understanding of what influences the different audiences think about issues and make decisions.

ECOP is not alone in expressing concern about current issues related to civil dialogue. A recent poll by Weber Shandwick found that 95 percent of Americans think civility is a problem, with 74 percent reporting that it has gotten worse in recent years. Seventy percent think that incivility has risen to “crisis” levels, an increase from 2014 reports. Engaging in civil dialogue and working together to advance positive communications and behavior is an important belief at 4-H National Headquarters. Civil dialogue is also a critical component in the ability of the 4-H Program to achieve the National Strategic Plan’s outcome of 4-H volunteers and staff being skilled, knowledgeable and prepared to work with all members of the community.

The Dialogue (excerpt from the Department of Justice Dialogue Guide)

A dialogue is a forum that draws participants from as many parts of the community as possible to exchange information face-to-face, share personal stories and experiences, honesty express perspectives, clarify viewpoints, and develop solutions to community concerns. Unlike debate, dialogue emphasizes listening to deepen understanding. Dialogue invites discovery. It develops common values and allows participants to express their own interests. It expects that participants will grow in understanding and may decide to act together with common goals. In dialogue, participants can question and reevaluate their assumptions. Through this process, people are learning to work together to improve trust and relationships. Effective dialogues do the following:

· Move towards solutions rather than continue to express or analyze the problem. An emphasis on personal responsibility moves the discussion away from finger pointing or naming enemies and towards constructive common action.

· Reach beyond the usual boundaries. When fully developed, dialogues can involve an entire community, offering opportunities for new, unexpected partnerships. New partnerships can develop when participants listen carefully and respectfully to each other. A search for solutions focuses on the common good as participants are encouraged to broaden their horizons and build relationships outside their comfort zones.

· Unite divided communities through respectful, informed sharing of local history and its consequences for different people in today’s society. The experience of “walking through history” together can lead to healing.

· Aim for a change of heart, not just a change of mind. Dialogues go beyond sharing and understanding to transforming participants. While the process begins with the individual, it eventually involves groups and institutions. Ultimately, dialogues can affect how programs and policies are developed.

The Application

In many areas of life, young people can set an example for all of us to follow. 4-H has many occasions where this is exactly the case. Each year National 4-H Conference brings together 4-H teens from around the nation to participate in a hands on civic engagement experience. Small groups of approximately fifteen 4-H’ers gather in roundtable sessions to focus on an issue of national importance. In approximately 15 hours of meeting time over three days, the 4-H’ers research, discuss and debate the topic. In the end, they present a briefing to a federal agency that has interest in addressing the specific issue.

The process the 4-H’ers go through is a real life example of where civil dialogue is vital to reaching a positive outcome. At a recent National 4-H Conference, one of the roundtable topics was Climate Challenges. The 4-H’ers were to provide their perspectives and proposed solutions to this issue.

Participants in the roundtable represented small rural communities, farms, big cities, and different geographic regions. Experiences and perspectives varied greatly. The 4-H’ers were eager to have their voice heard. The participants respected each other’s opinions, didn’t talk over each other, listened and asked questions. There was genuine interest in each person and their experiences, even on such a hotly debated topic.

The techniques that the 4-H’ers were demonstrating are vital to having civil dialogue. It was great to see youth leading in this way. However, over the course of the three days, tensions did arise. There was a tendency to continue the discussion without a clear direction or conclusion. It became apparent that the group was having a difficult time coming to a consensus on what to present to the federal agency.

It may be that it isn’t as difficult to listen and respect other’s opinions until a decision has to be made. At that point the feeling of “winning” or “losing” can be present. In this case, this is the time tension started to show, ideas started to be dismissed as irrelevant and some people started to lose interest or focus. At this point a few people started to dominate the group.

Finally, the group came up with an idea they could agree on. Each participant showed interest in this idea. However, the group fell back into their routine of continued discussion and not resolution. Pressure mounted in the group as the time for the briefing presentation neared. At one point, the group reached a crisis. A participant who was at the computer suggested they delete everything and start over.

What the group experienced in this moment of crisis actually brought more focus and purpose to the group then their hours of discussion. The moment was handled with concern and respect. This brought forth an honest discussion about the quality of the work they had done to this point. The participants seemed to come together at this moment and work harder as a group from that point forward.

Civility was maintained for the most part throughout the process. This would not be the case in many situations. These 4-H’ers showed great poise and leadership in working together. In the end, the group delivered a quality presentation to the federal agency. The 4-H’ers felt proud and empowered. The agency representatives engaged the teens in meaningful discussion and complimented them on their research, solutions, and ability to articulate the issue’s challenges and opportunities.

This example demonstrates the positive impact of a 4-H learning experiences. The principles of civil dialogue were demonstrated in a real life, meaningful experience. We can be proud of these young people and learn from their examples.

The Call to Action

Using these best practices is just one of the steps we can all take toward improving our understanding and implementation of civility and civil dialogue. Here are two more steps that can be taken to help us to be skilled, knowledgeable and prepared to work with others in an environment of civility.

Challenge 1: Make a personal pledge to follow the standards of conduct as outlined by the National Institute of Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona.

Challenge 2: Follow the example in this civility video and make an unlikely friend.

Together, through intentional practice and meaningful civil dialogue, the 4-H Program can improve is efforts to be welcoming and engaging to everyone.