ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Community Connections is a lesson collection designed for adult learners and community colleges, with the goal of inspiring student civic action. This might be respectful debate or conversation about a local issue, planning a community event, or a creative project that helps connect local, national and global issues.

To use this lesson: First, watch the video and answer the questions below as a warm up. Next, choose one or more of the activities under "Take Action" that best fits your classroom. Or, use the segment above to inspire your own original classroom activities — the spirit of these lessons is to connect current events to actions that make your community a better place for everyone!

SUMMARY

As partisan battles play out in Washington, Judy Woodruff introduces us to someone working to bridge America's divides by placing dignity at the heart of conversations between everyday citizens. It’s part of her series, America at a Crossroads.

Click herefor a transcript.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is Tim Shriver, and what is his background?
2. What organization does Tim Shriver lead?
3. Why are today's divisions in the U.S. different than in the past, according to Shriver?
4. What is the "Dignity Index"?
5. How does the Dignity Index help lower division, according to Shriver?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

In this segment, Tim Shriver says that social media has made divisions worse in the U.S., and that reflecting on dehumanizing language can help lower tensions.

• Do you think it's true that online communication and social media makes division worse than before the internet existed? If so, why do you think that is?
• Do you think it's possible for the culture of online communication to change to become more respectful? And if so, what would help make that change possible?

Media literacy: America at a Crossroads is a series that focuses on division in the U.S. and how people can work together to make their communities better. If you could ask the producers of the series to interview anyone in your community, who would you choose?

TAKE ACTION

First, check out the Dignity Index! You can start with this resource that suggests ways to lower the temperature of debate, including online. Begin by discussing — which of these tips would be helpful in your own online communications? What suggestions would you add to help make online debate more respectful?

Next, plan a debate on a topic that is meaningful in your community. It could be a new state or local law, or a controversial local issue. Use this guide for setting up the rules of debate, and remember to apply the Dignity Index to your conversation.

Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.