Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin, are twin cities and seaports located on the western shores of Lake Superior. In 2001, the public dialogue surrounding critical issues facing the Twin Ports region was so contentious that citizens were hesitant to engage in the process.
 
In an effort to improve the tone of public discourse, the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation launched Speak Your Peace: The Civility Project.
 
Speak Your Peace: The Civility Project urges citizens of the Duluth/Superior area to discuss community issues respectfully and promotes nine simple tools taken from P.M. Forni's book Choosing Civility. The project's tagline is 'It's not what you say, it's how you say it'.
 
"This isn't about censoring people's opinions but rather reminding ourselves of the basic principles of respect, even when in a heated debate," explains Holly C. Sampson, president of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.
 
The Community Foundation's influence has been integral in engaging individuals in government forums, middle school classrooms, unions, businesses, and church groups to participate in the Speak Your Peace campaign.
 
"The Community Foundation's initiative has given more people an opportunity to get involved because the public debate is much more civil," said Sampson.
 
Results of the Community Foundation's leadership include:

• Over $150,000 has been contributed to create Speak Your Peace posters, buttons, wallet cards and a website;
• Six local government entities, including regional city councils and county boards, passed resolutions adopting the nine tools of civility; and, 
• Implementation of the curriculum in the middle schools of the Duluth Public School system and posters hang in every classroom within the district.