In an era of deepening political polarization, over 70 North Carolinians from across the political spectrum gathered recently for an innovative experiment in civic engagement. The event, dubbed “Civic Saturday,” aimed to demonstrate that meaningful dialogue and community building can transcend partisan divisions.

“We’re seeing a trend where people are opting out of family gatherings based on political differences,” notes Michael Cooper, senior director of Advocacy at NC Child and the event’s lead organizer. “But retreating from these relationships isn’t the answer. We need to find ways to strengthen our civic bonds despite our differences.”

Cooper, a 2024 Obama USA leader and former Presidential Leadership scholar, drew inspiration for the gathering from his roots in small-town North Carolina.

“I grew up in the foothills, where my mom was a school teacher and our family owned a used bookstore on Main Street,” Cooper said. “That place sparked a curiosity about civics and community involvement that stayed with me.”

The event, supported by organizations including the Institute for Emerging Issues at NCSU and the NC Institute of Political Leadership, borrowed its format from Citizen University, a national nonprofit focused on building responsible citizenship. Like a faith gathering, it incorporated music, fellowship, shared meals, and thoughtful discourse — but with democracy as its central theme.

Participants heard from a diverse array of voices including civic leaders, elected officials, scholars, poets, and students. The gathering’s structure deliberately created space for meaningful conversation across political lines, emphasizing understanding over argument.

Cooper’s co-organizer was Rev. Chris West, who serves as the southeast hub director for America’s Future, an organization that organizes events that aim to empower young Americans, ages 20 to 40, to make an impact in their communities.

According to West, the purpose of this gathering was to “offer civic leaders a space to network and discuss ways to move forward as a whole community. One of the greatest problems facing our country is not who is or is not elected but the ways in which our civil discourse has led to a breakdown of civic trust, deep relationships, and a unity through shared values, like a belief in civility and hope.” 

The success of this initial gathering has sparked interest in expanding the model throughout the Triangle region. Local organizations, including the YMCA and Activate Good, are exploring opportunities to host similar events.

For communities interested in replicating this model, Cooper offers practical advice: “Start small, perhaps at a church or library. Find good partner organizations to recruit participants. Focus on creating genuine connections — those relationships and the energy they generate are what matter most.”

Organizations that supported this event, promoting civil dialogue in North Carolina include:

– America’s Future

– Listen First Project

– Braver Angels

– Institute of Political Leadership

– Institute for Emerging Issues at NCSU

– Citizen University

– Activate Good

– American Conservation Coalition

– The YMCA

For those interested in organizing similar events, resources and guidance are available through Citizen University’s Civic Saturday Fellowship program, which trains community leaders in fostering civic engagement and dialogue. Additionally, America’s Future has already committed funding and support for additional events on this topic in the Triangle, and across the southeast region.

“We want to keep this conversation going because we need to keep this conversation going,” Cooper emphasizes. “Creating spaces where Americans can come together despite their differences isn’t just valuable — it’s essential for the health of our democracy.”