How San Diego’s National Conflict Resolution Center Is Tackling Uncivil Discourse

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

By Marissa Cabrera, Maureen Cavanaugh

Above: KPBS Midday Edition

Aired 7/12/17 on KPBS Midday Edition

How San Diego’s National Conflict Resolution Center Is Tackling Uncivil Discourse

GUESTS:

Steve Dinkin, president, National Conflict Resolution Center

Sherryl Parks, councilwoman, city of Del Mar

Transcript for audioclip 35755

Most Americans believe civility in Washington between Republicans and Democrats has has gotten a lot less civil since 2016.

According to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour poll, seven in 10 Americans said the level of civility in politics has become worse since President Donald Trump was elected.

In San Diego, the National Conflict Resolution Center has established a code of civil discourse to help political leaders work through differences and find common ground.

And there is one city in the region that has pledged to try it out. Last year, the city of Del Mar adopted the Center's code of civil discourse.

Civility Works: The Del Mar Code of Civil Discourse

Together we will:

Promote inclusion - Share and respect diverse perspectives

Listen to understand - Be attentive, ask questions to clarify and confirm our understanding

Show respect - Value all perspectives and look for common ground

Be clear and fair - Explain our positions and our reasoning

Focus on the issue - Embrace the facts and avoid personalizing debate

Steve Dinkin, president of San Diego's National Conflict Resolution Center and Del Mar city councilwoman Sherryl Parks discussed on Wednesday on Midday Edition how they are hoping to bring harmony San Diego County politics.

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