SoMd Begins Effort to Increase Civility, Respect
The College of Southern Maryland and a growing number of community organizations are partnering to help make Southern Maryland more civil.
“Civility is such an important component of successful communities,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried. “We promote civility at CSM, and I believe that the college can play a major role in promoting these caring behaviors throughout Southern Maryland. I am impressed by the number of organizations – schools, libraries, nonprofits, etc., who are working together on this campaign.”
Choose Civility Southern Maryland has chosen to promote nine rules by Dr. P.M. Forni to guide ideas within the community: Think the best; Listen; Be Inclusive; Respect other opinions; Refrain from idle complaints; Pay attention; Acknowledge others; Speak kindly; Apologize earnestly.
The Choose Civility Southern Maryland Initiative will launch Oct. 15 with guest lecturer Daniel Buccino leading an on-campus conversation about the power of civility in today’s society at 2 p.m. at the Center of Business and Industry’s Room 103, followed by an evening community conversation at 6 p.m. at the Calvert County Public Library in Prince Frederick. Both events are open to the public.
“Southern Maryland, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties are communities that have had significant population changes in the last 10 years. Choose Civility Southern Maryland is a campaign that will promote civil behavior in all interactions from kindergarten to the office building and beyond. Citizens are asked to participate in programming that may seem basic, but will allow a foundation for all to grow upon,” said Ava Morton, program coordinator of the Diversity Institute.
For information, contact Morton at CSM’s Diversity Institute, [email protected] or 301-539-4742. To be added to the mailing list or to take the Civility Pledge, visit www.csmd.edu/ChooseCivility.
