More than 125 community members gathered on Oct. 20 for the inaugural “A Civil Dialogue: Your Role in Our Democracy” townhall event, co-hosted by the Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) Civic Engagement team in anticipation of the November election

The nonpartisasn event began with a panel discussion featuring (ormer Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star CEO and President Pierce Bush, Houston Voting Initiative Founder and President Annie Benifield, Greater Houston Partnership Public Policy Manager Scout Odegaard, and League of Women Voters Houston President Priscila True.

Smaller table discussions followed among the community members and high school students for networking and strategic discussions.

HCDE partnered with Civil Dialogues, which was founded by Jean Becker (former Chief of Staff to President George HW Bush) and Linda Lorelle (former journalist for Houston’s KPRC Channel 2).