Civility has been part of the conversation in the US after the horrific shootings in Arizona that killed six people and injured 13 others, including a Democrat representative Gabriella Giffords.  Our nation’s political discourse became the hot button because of its mounting incendiary tone on Capitol Hill, on the airwaves, in our schools and in our media, online and offline.

Our research last spring on Civility in America was perfectly timed and captured the declining level of discouse that was gaining speed in many of our institutions and across the nation.  The Institute is a smart idea for re-setting the tone and galvanizing advocates to support better interaction.