On Friday, October 25, 2013 council member Mike Reeves and Alyssa MacLeod, communications coordinator for the City of Lake Elmo, talked to Lake Elmo Elementary sixth graders about civility and the Speak Your Peace project. Students were introduced to the ‘Nine Tools of Civility,’ communication tools that serve as the foundation of the initiative (Pay Attention, Listen, Be Inclusive, Don’t Gossip, Show Respect, Seek Common Ground, Repair Damaged Relationships, Use Constructive Language, and Take Responsibility). Students were also acknowledged for publicly recognizing peers who demonstrate civility in their classrooms. The presentation served as a kick-off to a Speak Your Peace curriculum that the students will be completing during the 2013-14 school year. Students will wrap up the program by presenting what they have learned to the community in spring.
The Lake Elmo Speak Your Peace project was launched in April 2013 by a broad coalition of Lake Elmo community leaders committed to improving civility. Since then, several actions have been taken to bring awareness to the initiative and improve civil discourse including the Lake Elmo City Council, Commissioners and Staff adopting the ‘Nine Tools of Civility’ as foundational principles, and a community pledge signing. For more information or to bring Speak Your Peace into your organization visit: www.speakyourpeacelakeelmo.org.
