More Love, Less Contempt: Civil Discourse With Scott Fadness and Chris Lowery

Civil discourse works best when leaders can disagree without dividing. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and former commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Chris Lowery share how they approach conflict with humility, restraint and conviction. The conversation is hosted by  Marlon Webb and introduced by Kraig Kinchen. The Citizen 7 ACT Series event, "More Love, Less Contempt: A Civil Discourse Discussion," centers on whether people can listen with curiosity, preserve dignity and still hold firm to what they believe. Fadness recounts meeting privately with a resident who had repeatedly criticized him, and how asking about her life changed the conversation. He also defines political courage as staying focused on a constructive outcome rather than adding to the noise. Lowery describes four values he tries to bring into difficult conversations: honor, trust, grace and gratitude. He recalls a contentious Indiana Senate committee hearing and explains why he chose a direct phone call instead of public retaliation. He also argues that complex problems require more than isolated information, and that stronger solutions emerge when people from business, education, government, nonprofits and philanthropy are brought to the same table. The discussion turns to lived experience after flooding damaged homes in Fishers, the difference between civility and passivity, and the role of truth in productive disagreement. Both speakers make the case that respectful dialogue does not require surrendering deeply held beliefs. It requires knowing where common ground exists, when to keep listening and when continued argument is no longer useful. Presented by Citizen 7's ACT Series, Advancing the City Together.