Preparing the Table for Civility
Hospitality as the forgotten antidote to political violence, and to rebuilding trust in turbulent times
This week marks the inaugural Civility Summit in Carmel, Indiana! Become a patron today and join us for an exclusive salon on hospitality at my home this Friday at 10:30am, just before the summit begins. I would be delighted to host you and meet you in person.
Together we’ll explore the art of welcoming others with wisdom and grace. Seats are limited!
Gracious reader,
The Ancient Greeks looked down on the Macedonians—a people ethnically Greek—for what they deemed inferior manners and customs. The Greeks mixed water into their wine; the Macedonians drank it straight. The Greeks ate from tables; the Macedonians from plates. The Greeks prized marital exclusivity; the Macedonians were known for looser norms. In these tiny details, the Greeks saw evidence of barbarism. Freud later called this dynamic the narcissism of small differences—our tendency to magnify minor distinctions and let them harden into scorn.
Yet history has its ironies. The Macedonians never bent to Greek snobbery, and within a generation Philip of Macedon would conquer Greece itself.
We have an all-too-human tendency to create artificial divisions in everyday life, when in reality we share far more in common as human beings and citizens than we realize. Hospitality is one of those arenas where differences can feel magnified—because proximity forces us to notice them—but it is also a place where those divisions can soften. When we gather around a table, on a porch, or in a public square, hospitality becomes a tool of healing. It invites us to see one another first as fellow humans, not as caricatures of our differences.
One of the central ideas in The Soul of Civility is that the spaces we create shape the kind of people we become. Porches, tables, and other gathering places invite us to practice hospitality, to encounter difference, and to learn the delicate art of living well together.
That’s why this week in Carmel, as we prepare for the inaugural Civility Summit, the work feels symbolic as much as practical. Setting out name tags, arranging chairs, filling welcome packets—these are not just logistics. They are acts of civic imagination. They say: you belong here; your presence matters; this is a space for dignity.
When I wrote The Soul of Civility, I dreamed of more than a book. I hoped for a movement—a quiet rebellion against contempt, a community of people choosing dignity across difference. This Friday, that vision takes form.
I can’t wait to welcome friends and strangers alike into this experiment in renewal.
Warmly,
Lexi
👉 Explore the vision that inspired the Civility Summit in The Soul of Civility.
In the news:
Indiana to Host Inaugural National Civility Summit in Carmel:
‘‘On Saturday, Sept. 27, author and civic thinker Alexandra Hudson will deliver the keynote address at the Carmel Clay Public Library. Her book, The Soul of Civility, has helped spark a national conversation on bridging divides and directly influenced Worrell to create Project Civility.’’
Local Leader Tackles Incivility in Political Discourse:
“I happened to run across a book by Alexandra Hudson called The Soul of Civility,” Worrell said. “What really struck me was the subtitle, ‘Timeless Principles to Heal Ourselves and Society.'” An author event with Hudson at the Carmel library, which Worrell anticipated would draw a small crowd, instead attracted 320 people. “That just showed me that there was a desire and a hunger to talk more about civility in our community,” he said.’’
Project Civility Summit to emphasize peaceful discourse:
‘‘Worrell was inspired to start Project Civility in 2024 when he read the book “The Soul of Civility” by Alexandra Hudson. She will be a leading figure in the events at the Project Civility Summit.
The Summit begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 with a welcome reception and fireside chat by former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels at the Carmel Fire Department Headquarters & Carmel Fire Buffs Museum at 210 Veterans Way. Daniels will appear with Hudson, and the Project Civility National Award will be presented.’’
Year Ago on Civic Renaissance:
How to start a civil renaissance according to Carmel, Indiana—Inspired by The Soul of Civility!- A guest post by Carmel City Council President Jeff Worrell about how "The Soul of Civility" can empower local leaders to create cultures of civility in their community.
Jeff Worrell and Alexandra Hudson in Carmel, 2024, reflecting together on the importance and future of civility.
Thank you for being part of our Civic Renaissance community!
