Then Consider Joining Us at The table

A new survey reports 71 percent of Americans believe important societal discussions have been silenced by political correctness; and most Americans now feel discouraged from sharing heartfelt opinions and beliefs.

“Fifty-eight percent of Americans believe the political climate today prevents them from saying things they believe,” notes Emily Ekins, author of the 2017 Free Speech and Tolerance Survey report. In some subgroups, up to 73 percent feel forced into silence, she reports.

In honor of Dr. Brené Brown and our quickly approaching quarterly session, featuring Moe Carrick, today we offer some quotes from Dr. Brown’s book: “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead.”

Is “civility” a passé concept? Hopefully not now and not ever, noted C4C board members who recently led discussion during an inaugural Ford Family Foundation event.

Civility must not go out of style, they said, because new challenges will always keep coming; and civility is key to helping communities thrive while meeting those challenges.

C4C is collaborating with the Senior Alliance of Sisters to co-host the upcoming town hall: "Creating Age-Friendly Communities." The free event runs 2-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at Sisters Community Church. All are invited.

Citizens4Community seeks to build bridges—to foster communication and connections that bring a diversity of voices together—so Sisters can partner more effectively to respond to local issues. Therefore, C4C feels honored this week to be recognized for playing a role in bringing about the recent Sisters Fire Family Night—a fun and informative collaboration involving the Fire District and Sisters' Latino family community.

During last October's C4C quarterly session, Bryn Hazell, co-founder of the Center for Compassionate Living in Bend, offered Sisters residents a wonderful introduction to the tools of “Nonviolent Communication.” Our local audience learned about effective ways to speak honestly and clearly for their values and to listen to others more intently. Bryn’s talk drew much interest and encouraged thoughtful discussion, so C4C wanted to help get the word out about a rapidly approaching series Bryn will be leading—for anyone who might be interested in learning more.

FROM THE COLUMN: “I am involved with the Citizens4Civility (C4C) non-profit here in Sisters Country. For about 18 months we have been hosting quarterly Civility Project/Speak Your Peace meetings to share ideas and techniques for how we can all be more respectful with each other. We have been focusing on nine core tenets of civility.”

EXCERPTED FROM THE ARTICLE: “Citizens4Community is presenting its sixth free skill-building presentation on Thursday evening, April 20, at the Sisters Fire Hall. The evening will be a community conversation about civility, to help one another improve skills and understanding. Local volunteers who care about community, communication, and civility will facilitate the conversation. ….”

Citizens4Community will on April 20 present its next educational/skill-building session, kicked off by the popular "Soup & Civility" community-building and networking meal. The event runs 5:15 to 7:30 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Station Community Hall, 301 S. Elm St., in Sisters.

FROM THE ARTICLE: “Oregon State University professor Dr. Gregg Walker utilized two role-playing scenarios to help Sisters residents practice dealing with constructive confrontation and positive criticism at last week's Citizens4Community public forums.”

Explore “Constructive Confrontation”

By Sue Stafford

Published Jan. 17, 2017 in the Nugget Newspaper

C4C's next quarterly community-wide event—Soaring Toward Common Ground—is set for Wednesday, Jan. 25. The evening will explore the concept of what it means to "Be Agreeable" (even when you disagree)—one of the 9 basic principles of the Sisters Country Civility Project and Speak Your Peace.

Citizens4Community, host of the Civility Project, is planning for the future. We'd like to ask for your views and opinions about the efforts of our nonprofit. Comments submitted by Nov. 25 will be incorporated into the C4C steering committee's December strategic planning session. The survey takes only a few minutes to complete. Thank you in advance!

Citizens4Community members consider ourselves very fortunate to be working with 2016 Sisters High School graduate Alena Nore, artist for the official poster of the Sisters Country Civility Project. Alena and C4C members have collaborated to develop images that symbolize the Project's civility concepts while simultaneously depicting life in Sisters. The poster is expected to be finalized this month.

FROM THE ARTICLE: “The Sisters Country Civility Project introduced its brand-new poster of the nine tenets of civility last week at their quarterly public training at the fire hall.”

The Nugget—June 28, 2016
Speaker Seeks to Take 'War Out of Words'
by Sue Stafford

On July 12, Sisters residents will learn new skills that can help them communicate more powerfully, encourage one another and foster understanding. Citizens4Community and the Sisters Country Civility Project will present Summer Quarter 2016 Information and Skill-Building Sessions from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District Hall, 301 S. Elm St.

FROM THE ARTICLE: “The Sisters City Council has jumped on board with the community civility project "Speak Your Peace" — with one dissenting vote.”

The Nugget—February 17, 2016
Sisters Country Civility Project continues work, quietly
by Sue Stafford