Civil Dialogue Project of Cowlitz County

02/20/2023

10/19/2022

🟡Forum 5: HOW TO HEAL OUR COMMUNITY: The fifth and final forum in a series aimed at encouraging civil political dialogue will give the public a chance to suggest ways to heal political divisions in the local community.

The 90-minute forum starts at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 in the Laufman Lecture Hall of the LCC Health and Science Building, located on Maple Street opposite the Longview Public Library.

The series called “Community in the Crossfire: Seeking Civil Dialogue in Uncivil Times” has featured panelists of different viewpoints who debated the decriminalization of drugs, homelessneess, and the tension between economic development and protecting the environment.

For the Oct. 20 forum, organizers will seek ideas from the audience on ways to ease the divisiveness, mistrust, and animosity in the community, and how the community can unite to find solutions to local issues like drug abuse, homelessness, and economic stagnation.

"We can't heal the nation, but maybe we can heal our own community," said retired judge Stephen Warning, who has acted as moderator of the series. "Contentious national issues may separate us, but we can come together around local issues that matter most in Cowlitz County."

The audience can also comment on the Civil Dialogue project itself, its successes and shortcomings, and offer ideas for future events.

The Oct. 20 forum will be available through Zoom using the link on the project’s website. It will also be recorded and broadcast later by KLTV. Recordings, background information, and public comments from the first four forums are available on the website at civil-dialog.com.

10/05/2022

🟡Forum 4: DRUG ABUSE and ADDICTION is the topic of this fourth of a five-part series of public forums. Local community leaders, drug and legal professionals will address issues related to drug abuse, addiction, crime, mental health, with a focus on drug legalization and decriminalization

Please join us Thursday October 6th @ 7:30-9:00pm
in the Health and Science Building, Laufman Lecture Hall - HSB 101 at Lower Columbia College, located across Maple Street from the Longview Public Library. See our website for more detailed information: https://www.civil-dialog.com/

09/22/2022

🟡Forum 3: HOMELESSNESS is the topic of this third of a five-part series of public forums.

Please join us Thursday September 22nd @ 7:30-9:00pm
in the Health and Science Building, Laufman Lecture Hall - HSB 101 at Lower Columbia College, located across Maple Street from the Longview Public Library. See our website for more detailed information: https://www.civil-dialog.com/

08/20/2022

🟡 FORUM 1: Please watch our panelists discuss the essential practice and urgent need of civil dialogue about difficult political conversations.

Click Subscribe to be alerted to subsequent forums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgkap40hbE

Civil Discourse in Uncivil Times - Lower Columbia College - August 18th 2022 - 7:30 - 9:00pmLocal political representatives address the nature of political p...

08/20/2022

👏🏽 BIG SUCCESS :
THE FIRST OF FIVE FORUMS -
Civil Discourse in Uncivil Times: Community in the Crossfire was a big success Thursday night, with 103 people attending and showing their appreciation with a strong round of final applause.

The forum focused on the causes of political polarization and what do do about it. It featured a question-and-answer discussion featuring panelists Jerry Cooper, the vice chair of the Cowlitz Republican Party; Jim Young, deputy chair of the Cowlitz Democratic Party; Republican state Sen Ann Rivers;’ and former Democratic state Sen. Dean Takko. It was moderated by Stephen Warning, retired Cowlitz Superior Court Judge.

Panelists respectfully and thoughtfully lamented the loss of bipartisanship and the dominance of politics by the fringes of the two major parties. They blamed polarization on social media and social “silos” that spread misinformation and discord. They lamented the lack of understanding of how government works.

In addition, they called upon both politicians and the public to call out misinformation when they see or hear it and to remember, in then words of one panelist, “that your opponent is human, too.”

🟢 A recording of the full session via KLTV is available on our website @ civil-dialog.com.

✨PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE SECOND FORUM ON SEPT 8th✨
The second forum, which seeks a civil dialogue on how to address the economy and the environment problem, takes place on THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8th at 7:30pm the Health and Science Building at Lower Columbia College and also will be available through Zoom.

08/18/2022

Community in the Crossfire Zoom + KLTV Links

Zoom Event Link:
🟢 Please join us LIVE with this link on Zoom
Thursday August 18th at 7:30pm for our
Event Session 1: Community in the Crossfire
https://lowercolumbia.zoom.us/j/89555264818

KLTV Live + Rebroadcast Link:
🟢 Please join us LIVE on KLTV with this link
Thursday August 18th at 7:30pm for our
Event Session 1: Community in the Crossfire
https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/kltv/?page=HOME
and watch the rebroadcast here too