How to Build a Civic Renaissance, Starting with Yourself
What I’m Learning from Two Communities Rejecting Division and Rebuilding Civic Life
Gracious Reader,
The last 24 hours have left me with more hope than I’ve felt in a long time. In that time, I watched two communities—in the same state, yet acting completely independent of one another—reject our culture of dehumanization, division, and atomization, and actively choose a different way of life: one marked by flourishing across difference, by the rehumanization of public life starting with ourselves, and by reclaiming the gift of being human in ourselves and others.
In both communities, two individual citizens—the mayor of Urbandale and a professor at St. Ambrose—decided that the status quo wasn’t enough and wanted to be part of the solution. They turned to The Soul of Civility and found not just inspiration, but guidance for where to begin.
Monday evening, we launched the Civic Renaissance Tour at St. Ambrose University in Iowa. A growing cohort of 15+ Civic Renaissance Ambassadors is now reading The Soul of Civility together—not just to discuss it, but to live it, apply it, and begin building something real in their own communities.
Then, last night, the City of Urbandale—with a population of 46,000 people—chose The Soul of Civility as its community-wide read. Over the coming weeks, residents will take up a shared set of question: what would it look like to build a culture of flourishing across difference, starting with ourselves? What might a civic renaissance look like here?
In both cases, Urbandale and St. Ambrose have entered the Discover phase of the Civic Renaissance Playbook. This is a guide to civic renewal I developed through close study of two things: 1) of eras of multidimensional human flourishing across history, and 2) through careful attention to how communities are using The Soul of Civility in their own contexts.
The goal of this phase is for them to cultivate their vision of flourishing in their own community through a shared reading of my book. The invitation to them is then to build it—and sustain it themselves.
In both rooms, I offered the same vision:
What might it look like to live in a world where our differences don’t bring out the worst in us, but bring out the best?
Where disagreement does not erode relationships, but refines them?
Where we learn to see one another as we really are—human beings with dignity—and build from there?
That is the vision. This is our shared task.
Leaders across politics, geography, and vocation are turning to The Soul of Civility as a handbook for navigating divided and dehumanizing times, and for building something better in their own communities. Watching that take root on the ground, in real places with real people, is the very reason I wrote the book in the first place.
The Civic Renaissance Retreat
Something else giving me hope this week is this: This weekend, we will gather more than 50 leaders from across the country and world in our Italian Renaissance–style home for the Civic Renaissance Retreat—a feast for mind, body, and spirit.
We’ll be joined by Mitch Daniels, former governor of Indiana and a widely respected leader, and Daryl Davis, an African American jazz musician who has spent more than four decades seeking out and befriending members of hate groups, and has helped more than two hundred people leave those views through curiosity, conversation, and leading with a commitment to our shared humanity.
They are two extraordinary practitioners of flourishing across difference that we have the privildge of learning from throughout the weekend and our “unconference,” Socratic-style sessions. Together at the retreat, we will embody the world we want to build—one of flourishing and abundance—and then design a blueprint for how to carry it forward. We build a civic renaissance in our world—starting with ourselves.
If you are registered and attending the retreat this weekend, comment below and tell me what you’re most looking forward to.
If you’re not planning on going with us but want to, don’t worry.
While we are at capacity for this retreat, this is just the beginning. We wil host more in the future.
If this work resonates with you—if you want to help build a culture of flourishing across difference in your own community—please reach out.
Or, start where many of these leaders have started: read The Soul of Civility with a friend, a team, or a community, and ask what it would look like to live it.
This is how a civic renaissance begins: with one person deciding to double down and make their community better. That one person grows to a handful of people, and a handful of people can make a powerful difference in one community—and in our country. We each have far more power to be part of the problem—or part of the solution—than we realize.
Let’s build a civic renaissance.
Warmly,
Lexi
In the news:
Fox 21 News: Reclaiming Civility: Cultivating connection and respect in Colorado Springs
A media interview about The Civic Renaissance Launch in Indianapolis last week - Fox 59: 11th annual Fairbanks Symposium- Watch here
A podcast interview with Michael Lee of the University of Charleston, When We Disagree Podcast: The Soul of Civility, Tested
What does civility demand when justice is costly and deeply personal? Alexandra Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility and founder of Civic Renaissance, shares a raw story about how being scammed sparked both a lengthy legal battle and a profound disagreement with her husband over whether to fight or walk away. Through that conflict, Hudson wrestles with whether civility means politeness or principled confrontation, and what it costs our families when moral crusades take over our lives. The episode explores civility not as courteousness or softness, but as disciplined respect for human dignity even when the stakes are high and the gloves stay firmly on.
Review of The Soul of Civility in Indiana Capital Chronicle: With all due respect
Hudson is not alone in her pursuit for civility. A recent surveyshared by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute’s Center on Civility and Democracy reported that 72% of Americans want to see more civility in our nation’s politics. The same survey found that Americans are divided on their outlook for our nation’s future, split nearly in half over whether to be optimistic or pessimistic about our ability to come together.
Review of The Soul of civility in Bitterroot Star: Disagree better
Our community is full of independent people who don’t like being told what to think. That’s a strength. But independence only works if we can argue honestly without tearing each other apart in the process. This book doesn’t offer a program or a slogan. It offers a reminder of the habits that make self-government possible.
Year Ago on Civic Renaissance:
Paideia, Humanitas, Civility and Education
Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!
I'll be at the retreat. I'm looking forward to recharging my batteries for bringing people together through Braver Angels, discovering new ways to help make the world more civil, and making new acquiantances to support and be supported by in this work.