Building Communities with Civil, Fact-Based Discourse

“The key to progress and greater unity as a country isn’t actually less disagreement – it’s better disagreement.”

–Arthur C. Brooks, author of Love Your Enemies

In a rapidly changing society where technology, social media and the 24-hour news cycle have transformed the way we learn about our world and interact with one another, the very human need to belong, to connect and to build community is becoming diminished.

Increasingly, our world and the people in it are becoming more polarized, more divided, and more contentious on critical issues that impact us all. This is disastrous for our communities and our nation. But most of us don’t want it to be this way. What can we do to change it?

American Public Square is a Kansas City-based community organization working to improve the tone and quality of public discourse by:

• • • Convening groups and creating space for respectful dialogue on important topics
    • Educating community members about why engaging in this way is important and how to do it well
    • Engaging diverse segments of our society to ensure that multiple perspectives are explored

PROGRAMS OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU
Since 2013, APS has presented:

• • • Signature events
    • Panel discussions and lectures
    • Community outreach initiatives
    • Student-focused learning programs
    • Digital content

Covering topics from Medicare reform and the #MeToo movement to minimum wage and climate action, our programs address the most pressing, “wicked” issues of our times. When we come together as a community to have these conversations, we learn to disagree not less, but better with one another, and in so doing, we strengthen our democracy and heal our communities. Join us!

The APS Civility Tool Kit, used at all APS programs and in the APS college and high school curriculum, was created to cultivate civil conversations among panelists and community members alike.

Explore our event calendar and program archive.