Wakefield Marks Civility Week With Author Visit And More

This week, the town of Wakefield will mark Civility Week with some events in town that highlight the overall importance of civil behavior.
Along with the visit to town by author Sara Hacala, the Beebe Library in downtown Wakefield has a couple of Civility Week activities planned - On Tuesday at 7 p.m. Megan MacNeil of Historic New England will discuss the historical role of etiquette. Then, on Wednesday comic artists Andy and Veronica Fish give a 7 p.m. presentation that explores the role of bullying in comic art. 

The following was provided by the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence: 

As a part of bringing awareness to National Civility Week, October 20 through 26, Wakefield Alliance Against Violence (WAAV) welcomes Sara Hacala, noted author of Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude, and Attitude for a Polite Planet to the community in a two-day focus on civility as an antidote to violence.  The programs are part of WAAV’s ongoing Civility Project effort.

On Wednesday, October 23, there will be a by-invitation-only live taping of a half-hour program featuring author, trainer and lecturer, Sara Hacala at Wakefield Community Access Television (WCAT). She will talk on the subject of Civility, based on her book and experience, to inform town leaders in all areas of service to the community. The author will also answer questions from the audience. This taped program will be available to watch on WCAT at regularly scheduled times on RCN and Comcast Channel 3 and Verizon Channel 40.  Check the listings for it on http://wcatwakefield.org/ , under TV Schedule, Public Programming.

The following day, Thursday, October 24, Galvin Middle School eighth graders and their parents will have the opportunity to meet Ms. Hacala at a special assembly held at the school. She will talk with the students and parents about what is “civility,” what is and is not civil behavior, why it matters, and how civility is part of one’s life skills. She will incorporate in that theme the frequently asked question, “what’s in it for me?

In her book, Ms. Hacala explores how we, as individuals, can each contribute to making the world a more pleasant place to live. Her conclusions incorporate the research of social psychologists and scientists on human behavior. The “golden egg” is that civility facilitates progress in problem solving—whether that is in business, government or personal relationships.

Ms. Hacala is president of Sara Hacala & Associates LLC, a certified business etiquette and protocol trainer, and civility lecturer. She also works in high schools with “at risk” students, teaching vital interpersonal skills to help them access the business arena and increase their opportunities for success. 

These outreach programs, on October 23 and 24, hosted by WAAV, offer effective talking point tools for parents and their children. They provide sound information and ideas for educators, town officials, clergy, staff  of youth-serving organizations, etc. , who are concerned with the increase in devastating violence in this country reaching into all areas of our lives, including our schools, workplaces, homes and the streets.

For more information on the Civility Project and WAAV itself, please go to http://www.waavonline.org . (See Current Projects)