Central Florida Leaders Discuss Political Incivility in LWVOC’s Aug. 14 Forum League of Women Voters of Orange County “Hot Topics” Lunch Series America is on the edge as the Nov. 5 election draws closer. Despite pleas for unity, recent historic events have divided voters even further. So how do we begin to bridge that widening gap? A panel of influential Central Florida leaders will address these timely questions in the Aug. 14 Hot Topics session “Civil Discourse — Not Civil War.” Doors open at the Winter Park Events Center at 11:00 a.m. for a buffet lunch, and the panel discussion starts at 11:45 a.m. at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park. The program ends at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members. The moderator is Teresa Jacobs, chair of the Orange County Public School Board. Panelists include former U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who served Florida’s 7 th congressional district for six years; Dick Batchelor, political consultant and author of “Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times”; Dr. Joel Hunter, chair of The Pledge of Central Florida campaign; and Dr. Haley Winston, director of the UCF offices of Civil Discourse and Engagement and Public Policy Events within the Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement. Extended biographies are available on the Hot Topics webpage. The Aug. 14 Hot Topics will examine civil discourse — what it means, and how to use it. Among questions to be discussed: --How should we talk with people who hold very different points of view? --What leads to political violence? Is it inevitable or avoidable? --How do you dial back the rhetoric and turn off the outrage machine? --How can we build more bridges instead of walls? --If things don’t go the way we like on Nov. 5, how do we get back to work to make our communities better? Hot Topics is streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and is available for viewing live on the League’s YouTube channel, League of Women Voters Orange County -YouTube Visionary sponsors: Phil and Jennifer Anderson. Bronze sponsors: Lyn and David Berelsman and Voting Voices —Michele Levy, Charley Williams, and Laurie and Richard Wack. The League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida, is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.