Bonus Neighboring 101: Talking About Democracy and Civics with Neighbors

We are going to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a special bonus session of Neighboring 101 at 12 noon CST on July 2. Our topic: “Talking Civics and Democracy with Neighbors.” This is an especially important topic at a time when many Americans are searching for ways to rebuild trust, connection, and healthy civic dialogue in their communities.

Our guest will be Siri C. Erickson, Senior Director for Strategy and Learning with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement. PACE is a philanthropic laboratory for funders seeking to maximize their individual and collective impact on democracy and civic life in America. The PACE community achieves this through learning, experimenting, collaborating, and modeling vibrant civic space. 

Of particular interest is the new study from PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project, “How to Talk About Democracy Under Pressure.” This study, called “How to Talk Bridgey 2.0,” translates fresh 2025 national data into practical guidance for communicating about democracy, civic life, and perceived threats in a precarious moment. This guide shows how language can either keep people engaged or quietly push them away and offers concrete lessons for choosing words that invite connection rather than close it off. See https://www.pacefunders.org/language/

Siri’s work focuses on the language, relationships, and shared understanding that help communities thrive. Her leadership with the Civic Language Perceptions Project has helped translate national research into practical insights for organizations, leaders, and everyday residents who want to have more meaningful conversations across differences.

We are honored to have her join us for this America 250 celebration and excited to learn how neighboring and civic life intersect in ways that can strengthen both our communities and our democracy. 

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.