Civic Saturday aims to rekindle our faith in civic discourse

Even with states like Washington fully reopened, folks may not be eager to come together just yet. Feelings of anxiousness and disconnection persist along with the pandemic. And any potential unity among Americans, including civil discourse, continues to prove a bumpy road to say the least.

But for speakers at Civic Saturday, it’s a road that is still worth traveling, having faith in, and suffering through together.

Civic Saturday is an event created by Eric Liu and Jená Cane. Following the pattern of traditional faith gatherings, by way of fostering fellowship and expressing a shared civic faith. From readings of civic texts to poetry and a “civic sermon,” this latest gathering continues the tradition of coming together and reckoning with perspectives and truths to help build communities' civic muscles.

The focus of this event grapples with the lingering effects of Covid by confronting and processing collective grief.

This event features poetry from Seattle Civic Poet Jourdan Imani Keith (and music from Olivia Brownlee.) Author and former speechwriter in the Clinton administration, Eric Liu, delivered the “civic sermon.”

This hybrid virtual/in-person event was presented by Town Hall Seattle on August 7.