Civility Matters! What Do You Think?
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Ed Munoz and Dudley Gardner discuss immigration issues in Rawlins at a Civility Matters: Government, God, Google, & Guns outdoor event.
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Fred Chapman, a private contractor with the military, discusses his time in Iraq with participants in Guernsey, WY at a Civility Matters!: Government, God, Google, & Guns event.
In 2011, the Wyoming Humanities Council hosted Civility Matters!, a year-long series of programs considering the meaning of civility. Through a variety of formats, Civility Matters! creatively engaged public and private resources to build civic participation, foster cultural diversity, and promote critical thinking. Civility Matters! is being followed in 2012 with Giving Voice, a listening project.
Civility Matters! was developed in response to the American Civility Tour of Jim Leach, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), along with the NEH's new Bridging Cultures initiative, which focuses on the role of civility in a democracy and understanding Muslim contributions to world cultures.
Programs throughout the year were presented in a variety of formats and explored historically contentious events, as well as contemporary state, national, and international issues. Wide-ranging topics included "cyber-civility" and public discourse in the digital age; sports and civility; cyber and school bullying; academic freedom; generational differences; national topics, such as second amendment rights, labor relations, and energy and water issues; regional topics, such as the Rock Springs Massacre, the Johnson County Wars, and the World War II Heart Mountain Relocation Center; and international topics, such as Islamic contributions to world cultures and the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.
The Wyoming Humanities Council launched this significant initiative in partnership with the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources, with funding from the Wyoming State Legislature.
Read about Civility Matters! in the Cody Enterprise.
Civility Matters! Calendar of EventsFall 2010 | Winter 2011 | Spring 2011 | Summer 2011 | Fall 2011
September 18 Civility Matters! kickoff by National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Chairman Jim Leach and Senator Alan Simpson and "Civility in a Fractured Society" by NEH Chairman Jim Leach, Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Northwest College, and Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody/Powell.*
September 29 "Reversing the Tide: Teaching Civility in an Era of Incivility," by President Tori Haring-Smith, Washington & Jefferson College, Teton County Library, Jackson. *
October 11-12 "China Forum: Understanding Consequences and Opportunities of Rapid Social Changes Inside China," University of Wyoming International Studies Series, Sheridan College and Casper College.*
October 13 "A Conversation with Mike Sullivan and Pete Simpson," Sweetwater County Library Foundation, Rock Springs.*
October 19-21 "The Rise of Iran and the Modern Middle East: Implications for the U.S. and the Globe," University of Wyoming International Studies Series, Northwest College, Central Wyoming College, Western Wyoming College.*
October 24 Casper Star-Tribune Civility Matters! guest editorial introduction by Milward Simpson, director of Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources.*
November 8-11 'Never Again' Must Mean ‘Never' Genocide, University of Wyoming International Studies Series, University of Wyoming, Laramie County Community College, Eastern Wyoming College, Casper College.*
November 21 Casper Star-Tribune Civility Matters! guest editorial on sportsmanship by Chris Prosinski, University of Wyoming football player.*
December 10 "The Decline of Legislative Civility-But Not in Wyoming," by Alan Rosenthal, Rutgers University legislative scholar, 5:30-7 p.m.., Plains Hotel, Cheyenne.*
January Civility Matters! community grant initiative of 10 grants up to $5,000 for civility-related public humanities projects. Proposals should be innovative in their approach to civility such as engaging youth in civility through humanities topics, documentary filmmaking, and civility-based seminars.
January 31-February 1, February 3, February 8, February 11, and February 15-16 Aboriginal Worldview, Indigenous Peoples, and Traditional Cultural Perspectives, Ydumduma Bill Harney, Elder and Lawman for the Wardaman People of Australia. University of Wyoming International Studies Series, January 31, February 1 and 3 Rock Springs, Riverton and Powell; February 8 Cheyenne; February 11 Laramie; February 15-16 Casper and Sheridan. Registration required.*
February Civility on the Small Screen: All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and Good Times, statewide online discussions of critically acclaimed television programs from the 1970's. Funded by a grant from the University of Wyoming Outreach School.*
February 10, The Power of My Written Word: A Conversation with Author Victor Villasenor, Jackson Hole High School Auditorium.
Family and Quality of Life: Pride in Heritage, Family, and the Power of Personal Achievement through Vision, Education and Perseverance: A lecture by Victor Villasenor. Teton County Library, Jackson Hole, WY.
March Civility Matters! Cabin Fever, online book discussion of young adult novel Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye.
April Civility Matters! National History Day awards.*
April 30, Prairie Wind Festival , Gillette, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
May Civility Matters! A Wyoming Reader publication, selected readings on civility edited in consultation with Pete Simpson and Phil Roberts.
May 5, Cinco de Mayo, Evanston, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
May 21, Wind Celebration and Symposium, Rawlins, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
June-August Civility Matters! Government, God, Google & Guns, outdoor community park series dialogues about historic and contemporary contentious events lightened by ice cream, watermelon, and lemonade.
June 8, Wyoming Association of Municipalities, Sheridan, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
June 11, Culturefest, Worland, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
July Welcome to Wyoming, A Guide for Newcomers, reprint publication for newcomers to Wyoming.
July 4, Music in the Hole, Jackson, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
July 9, International Day, Rock Springs, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
July 21-23, Basque Festival, Buffalo, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
August 12, NoWoodstock, Ten Sleep, Civility Matters! Government, God, Google, and Guns Traveling Tent
September 19-22 Poetry and Potlucks, statewide school/community tour of Wyoming by nationally recognized Palestinian-American poet and author
Monthly Civility Matters! Casper Star-Tribune guest editorials by Wyoming leaders and citizens.
Online tools for Wyomingites to post suggested book and film discussion titles, and guest editorials.
Occasional/regional billboards promoting the message of civility.
Humanities at Work ethics seminars available for professionals.
