This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
In a time when politics can feel like a shouting match, a local nonprofit is betting on something simpler: sit down, listen and talk like neighbors.
Constitution Day Centre will host its annual Constitution Day celebration on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Delta High School in State College. The theme this year is “We the People,” and the centerpiece is a set of moderated “Making Our Voices Heard” roundtables designed to bring people with different views to the same table.
The format is straightforward. Participants join small groups led by trained moderators and work through three prompts: What values do most Americans share? How could we make our political conversations more productive? How might the Bill of Rights be adapted for today? The day wraps up with brief reports from each table and organizers compile a written summary to share with attendees, local media and public officials.
“These are not questions with easy or simple answers,” said David Hutchinson, president of Constitution Day Centre. “A lot of folks don’t feel like their voices are being heard anymore. What we want to show is that it is possible to have meaningful conversations with people you disagree with without going at each other’s throats.”
Hutchinson said the roundtables run on a handful of basic ground rules: no one dominates, everyone gets a turn and participants listen without interrupting.
“People come in skeptical, but by the end, most of them say, ‘That wasn’t too bad. I actually had a good conversation,’” Hutchinson said.
The tone is intentional. Organizers say the event pushes back on the dehumanizing nature of online debates rather than face-to-face discussions.
“Face to face, you’re reminded that someone with a different opinion is still your neighbor,” Hutchinson said. On past topics groups still disagreed on policy but found common ground in basic principles.
For Vicki Fong, vice president of Constitution Day Centre, the roundtables also echo how the Constitution itself came to be.
“The Constitution was created through a series of compromises among the delegates in 1787,” she said. “What we’re trying to do is give people the opportunity to practice that skill of listening and finding common ground.”
This year brings a new venue at Delta High School, whose democratic school ethics fits the program’s goals. Moderators will again encourage participants to talk about not just what they believe, but why they believe that way, a step Hutchinson said “cuts off the sharp edges” when conversations heat up.
“Tell us what experiences brought you to your position,” he said. “I might still disagree, but I understand where you’re coming from.”
The agenda also includes the Madison Award for Civility, which recognizes residents or organizations that model constructive dialogue and community leadership. Fong said the award was created to honor “unsung heroes who work quietly to bring people together.”
Hutchinson said the work is about building open discussion and civility.
“If we are to fulfill Lincoln’s vision of a government by the people, we need to exercise our citizenship skills,” Hutchinson said.
The day is meant to be accessible. Admission is free and open to the public, and a light lunch will be provided. Organizers encourage advanced registration, but walk-ins will be welcomed. This year, C-NET plans to film one of the groups with participants’ permission, a way to document how the model works and encourage others to try it.
“Each time I rewatch a session, I hear something new,” Fong said. “A genuine concern from someone explaining their community, their family or their work. You realize most people want the same thing: a healthy democracy and a better country.”
Constitution Day Centre notes ongoing support from community organizations and donors, with the broader goal of spreading the practice of civil dialogue countywide.
Hutchinson doesn’t expect the event to solve constitutional disputes in a day. That isn’t the point.
“This is practice,” he said. “If people leave thinking, ‘I can do this in my neighborhood, in my school, with my own family,’ we’ve done our job.”
Registration and details are available at wpsu.org/constitutionday. More information about the organization is at constitutiondaycentre.org or by email at info@constitutiondaycentre.org.
