Study shows Floridians are not civic minded. That needs to change. | Opinion by Janice Lucas and Bob Jones

Thank you to the Tallahassee Democrat for the coverage of our "Fast Forward Tallahassee" event on Wednesday!

See you tonight for Fast Forward Tallahassee! Thank you, Tallahassee Democrat, for the article. Wednesday, September 24, 2025 @ 5:30 pm at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee. More info at https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/fast-forward-tallahassee-2025/

Thanks, Tallahassee Democrat, for the article about our "Fast Forward Tallahassee" event tomorrow, Wednesday, September 24. It's free - join us!

This Wednesday, it's time for "Fast Forward Tallahassee,' a series of 5-minute mini-presentations with auto-advancing slides…ready or not! It’s going to be interesting. Register for FREE at https://tinyurl.com/FFTallahassee.

On Monday we wrapped up this summer's 3-part "Local Color" series celebrating food as it relates to Black culture and the Black experience with an emphasis on the unifying powers of food and shared meals.

Village SquareCast! Podcast: Location, Location, Location: The Importance of Being Local https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ The rules are like for buying a house: location, location, location OR local local local. #disagreebetter #listenfirst

You’re invited to join us tonight, September 8 for “Soulful Flavors Uniting Neighbors” featuring the inspiring story of Jennifer Young, Owner & Chief Baking Officer of TC Bakery.  The event is free to attend - register at https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-soulful-flavors/

"Joyner describes the mission of Village Square — rebuilding civic trust amid increasing polarization — as both “impossible and mandatory.”

Village SquareCast! Podcast: Carom Shots: Why Working Upstream From Conflict is So Powerful  https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

You’re invited to join us September 8 for “Soulful Flavors Uniting Neighbors” featuring the inspiring story of Jennifer Young, Owner & Chief Baking Officer of TC Bakery.  The event is free to attend - register at https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-soulful-flavors/

You’re invited to join us September 8 for “Soulful Flavors Uniting Neighbors” featuring the inspiring story of Jennifer Young, Owner & Chief Baking Officer of TC Bakery.  The event is free to attend - register at https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-soulful-flavors/

Village Voices: How do you demonstrate respect for others, while maintaining an ability to speak your mind? Share your thoughts! The Village Square brings people together across political divides through conversation and community. We’re like group therapy for people who vote differently.

Summer read from our UNUM guests: Dr. Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett: The Upswing 📖 Explore our full summer reading list and hear from our brilliant UNUM author guests: https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Village SquareCast! UNUM Podcast: If We Are Brave https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ We claim to be a nation founded on an idea. But, especially in these times of civic rupture, are we even all talking about the same idea?

Village Voices: What have you found helpful to depolarize politics among friends and family? Share your ideas! The Village Square brings people together across political divides through conversation and community. Disagreement isn’t the problem—disconnection is. We’re here to fix that.

Summer read from our UNUM guests: Alexandra Hudson: The Soul of Civility 📖 Explore our full summer reading list and hear from our brilliant UNUM author guests: https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Village SquareCast! UNUM Podcast: God Squad: Ten Paces at High Noon https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

Village Voices: How has the growing political divide in America affected your life? What are some solutions? The Village Square brings people together across political divides via conversation and community. From local discussions to national dialogue, we champion civil discourse in a noisy world.

Summer read from our UNUM guests: Jonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation 📖 Explore our full summer reading list and hear from our brilliant UNUM author guests: https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

UNUM Podcast: "Outraged with Dr, Kurt Gray https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ According to our special guest UNC psychologist Kurt Gray in his new book OUTRAGED, the conflict lies in our human instinct to protect ourselves and the ones we love from harm.

AMAZING "Local Color" event last night. Thank you to all who came out to support the program.  There is one more upcoming local color event on September 8 - learn more about the program at https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-soulful-flavors/

Village SquareCast! Flying Pig Academy: How Jonathan Haidt Wrote THE Book for Pigs with Higher Aspirations https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

Village Voices: Let's commit to engaging with people who have different political beliefs with respectful conversations. What are your strategies? The Village Square brings people together across political divides through community. Building empathy one (sometimes awkward) conversation at a time.

Summer read from our UNUM guests: Renee DiResta – Invisible Rulers 📖 Explore our full summer reading list and hear from our brilliant UNUM author guests: https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Join us on Monday, August 11 for Local Color: Deeply Rooted Southern Comfort; https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-southern-comfort The event is free to attend, but space is limited, so please register to reserve your seat! #disagreebetter #listenfirst #localcolor

Village Voices: Imagine a world where we didn't see each other as Republicans or Democrats, but as fellow citizens. How do we make that a reality? Learn more at https://villagesquare.us. Civic love looks like showing up, even when we don’t all agree.

Local Color Re-Launch! Food from the Soul” kicked off with the fascinating story of Chef Yolonda Bowman, founder and owner of private catering company Blackberry Mimosa specializing in elevated Southern cuisine.  On August 14: https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-southern-comfort

This week’s featured read: Outraged by Dr. Kurt Gray 🧠 “In Outraged, Kurt Gray showcases the latest science to demonstrate that we all have the same moral mind — that everyone’s moral judgments stem from feeling threatened or vulnerable to harm.” https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Village Voices: Have you actively tried to listen to an opposing point of view and understand the viewpoint? How did you feel? #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange #disagreebetter #listenfirst

This week’s featured read: "If We Are Brave" by Dr. Theodore R. Johnson — “A beautiful but harsh indictment of a nation that aspires to be a more perfect union yet has consistently and painfully fallen short.” 📚 Dive into our full list of summer reading at https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Summer read from our UNUM guests: a Hudson: The Soul of Civility 📖 Explore our full summer reading list and hear from our brilliant UNUM author guests: https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

“The need for connection and community is primal, as fundamental as the need for air, water, and food.” – Dean Ornish, Physician, Author & Medical Researcher #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides

Village Voices: Do we need to agree or do we need to disagree with respect? What defines unity?

This week we are featuring "I Never Thought Of It That Way" by Mónica Guzmán. If you're ready to fight back against the confusion, heartbreak, and madness of our dangerously divided times, Mónica's got the tools! Learn more at https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/ - web link in bio!

Local Color is back! We invite you to join us for this series celebrating food as it relates to Black culture & the Black experience with an emphasis on the unifying powers of food & shared meals.  The next two programs are August 11 and September 8. https://villagesquare.us/series/local-color/

“Civility costs nothing, and buys everything” – Mary Wortley Montagu, Poet #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

This week we are featuring "What's Our Problem; A Self-Help Book For Societies" by Tim Urban, a fun and fascinating dive into what the hell is going on in our strange, unprecedented modern times. Learn more about our summer reading suggestions at https://villagesquare.us/event/summer-swim/

Village Voices: Share a time when you put aside political differences to create constructive conversation  with someone holding opposing views.

Village SquareCast Mónica Guzmán: One Step Closer | UNUM series https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/

We’re excited to announce the relaunch of our Local Color program with a 3-part series celebrating food as it relates to Black culture and the Black experience. July 14, August 11, September 8. https://tlh.villagesquare.us/event/local-color-food-from-the-soul/?mc_cid=12ab616263&mc_eid=96110d64ae

“We have a choice about how we behave, and that means we have the choice to opt for civility and grace.” – Dwight Currie, Author #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July from The Village Square! Today we celebrate the promise of freedom and the power of community. May we continue to honor our democracy through kindness, dialogue, and shared purpose. #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether

Village Voices: Share some positive news stories that highlight people despite their differences.

Village SquareCast God Squad: Lost & Found https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/

"Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos." – President George W. Bush #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

Village Voices: Share a time when you had a respectful conversation with someone with different political beliefs. The Village Square brings people together across political divides through conversation and community. https://villagesquare.us #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether

Village SquareCast Tim Urban: What's Our Problem? https://villagesquare.us/podcasts/ What, exactly, is our problem?

“Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle.” – George R.R. Martin ("Game of Thrones") #disagreebetter #listenfirst #strongertogether #civility #unitedwestand #democracy #civicengagement #civildiscourse #bridgingdivides #bethechange

Summer is here and we know you have plans – fishing, sunbathing, a summer read or two? Whatever you’re up to, we say you add just one more to-do: “Save the planet by escaping the echo chamber.” Doable, right?