Moderated by Connecticut Public’s Lucy Nalpathanchil, the panel discussion features our 89th governor, Ned Lamont, a Democrat, who was sworn in to his second term in January. He will be joined by M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, who served Connecticut as our 87th Governor from 2004 until 2011.

As our country and even local communities wrestle with divisions, Connecticut Public is proud to facilitate conversations around our state focused on how individuals and lawmakers can encourage civility in our discourse.

The event will be held in Millard Auditorium at the University of Hartford. UHart is also home to the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service, which was established after Rell’s term to promote values exemplified in the governor’s career, including integrity in government and responsible participation in public life.

The governors will talk about incivility, the role of policymakers in civil discourse, and how all residents can learn to bridge divides despite political affiliations.

The poets will talk about their creative process including their work with historian, Carolyn Wakeman, to uncover the stories of the long ago enslaved including Cato, Humphrey, Temperance, and Arabella.

We will also hear the poets read selected poems.

Moderated by Connecticut Public's Lucy Nalpathanchil.

broken down and what we can do about it. Each addresses the unique role women leaders play in restoring civility to public life.

The panelists include Democratic Stamford Mayor, Caroline Simmons, Republican Leader of the CT House of Representatives (2014 - 2020), Themis Klarides, and Executive Director Emerita of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer.

The event moderator is Lucy Nalpathanchil, VP for Community Engagement, Connecticut Public and an award-winning, veteran public radio reporter.

• League of Women Voters of Greenwich
• Greenwich Library

Mónica Guzmán and Wilk Wilkinson of Braver Angels about their work building bridges across political differences. They share strategies everyone can use.

Guzmán is a Senior Fellow at Braver Angels and author of I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times. Guzmán describes herself as "the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents.

Wilkinson, a conservative, is a member of Braver Angels' We The People's Project and host of the podcast, Derate the Hate.

Braver Angels is a national non-profit bridging differences among Americans through its workshops, debates, and volunteer alliances across the country.

The panel discussion at The Westport Library will be from 7 pm-8:15 pm and will include questions from the audience.

The event is a partnership between Connecticut Public, Braver Angels, The Westport Library and the Hearst CT Media Group.

Attorneys Janie L. McDermott, Esq. and Michael J. Reardon, Esq. from the Connecticut-based firm of Carmody, Torrance, Sandak and Hennessey will educate us on the basics of estate planning, discussing some of the myths and realities of the process.

They will demystify topics like how and when to begin making your plans, choosing an executor, defining your legacy, and ensuring your wishes are met. If you have questions about this webinar or are interested in receiving more information about our Visionary Society, please contact Ipsita Ganguli, Director, Foundations and Special Projects at iganguli@ctpublic.org or (860) 275-7306.

More than half of Hartford’s students still attend low-performing schools. Our November CUTLINE episode, "Striving Toward Education Equity", explored the complex issues around housing, race and inequity, educational funding, and the achievement and opportunity gaps facing kids and families in Hartford and many other Connecticut communities.

How did we get to this point? How can we strive toward education equity in Connecticut? This Community Conversation featured clips from the episode, hosted an engaging community conversation with education experts, and answered your questions.