Reps from three Oregon cities gather Wednesday to discuss building political civility
Troubled by political polarization in their communities, leaders from three Oregon cities will share about their efforts to build local political civility in a panel discussion at George Fox from 7 to 8:30 p.m. this Wednesday, March 9, in Hoover 105.
Silverton mayor Kyle Palmer, Newberg mayor Rick Rogers, Canby community leader Ray Keen, and Newberg Downtown Coalition Executive Director Polly Peterson will discuss the threats to their communities’ well-being that come from bitter political divisions, and how they are working to heal those divisions and move political discourse into a more productive mode.
The event will be moderated by Ron Mock, director of the George Fox Civility Project, an initiative launched during the 2020-21 academic year out of concern about the polarization and alienation in political culture at every level (national, state and local). It sponsors events, publishes a newsletter, and maintains a website with information about civility.
Masks will be required to attend the session in person, in keeping with university policy and state regulations. Those who prefer to attend remotely can connect via Zoom. A link will be available on the Civility Project website or by contacting the project at civility@georgefox.edu.
There will be time for questions from the audience, including questions submitted via Zoom from those attending remotely.