Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 PM
Inspiration Alley in Downtown Boise
217 S 11th St, Boise, ID 83702

From Barriers to Bridges

Feature in IdahoNews

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A local event to promote civil discourse, Barriers to Bridges, is happening Tuesday, Oct. 21. This is part of Idaho For Good's "Do Good Conversation Series."

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Tuesday, October 21st at 5:30 PM - ​Civil discourse is the foundation of a functioning democracy, yet it feels increasingly fragile. This Do Good Conversation Series invites our community to come together and explore how we can replace barriers with bridges​,​ bringing together voices from different political parties and diverse perspectives in civic, policy, and political life.

Today, listening is an act of courage. Connecting with someone you don’t see eye to eye with—and walking away with mutual respect—is rarely celebrated in mainstream media, but it’s more important now than ever. 

Join us as we explore the humanity in all of us and how we can hold onto respect and connection, even in the hardest conversations.

A Conversation on Civil Discourse

Meet the Speakers

Our speakers bring unique perspectives on how to foster meaningful conversation across divides.

  • Sen. Melissa Wintrow is a lifelong advocate for equity, fairness, and education. A former Boise State educator and Women’s Center Director, she has spent over 25 years empowering students and leading programs in leadership development, diversity, and victim advocacy. As a legislator, she became involved in the National Institute for Civil Discourse, serving as co-chair of a national network of state legislators (Nxt Gen) committed to leading with civility. Today, she brings that same commitment to the Idaho Legislature, where she champions civil discourse and stands up for those treated unfairly. Melissa also co-owns SAGA Strategic Consulting, helping organizations strengthen leadership and collaboration.

  • Nancy Buffington is an English professor turned public speaking coach/trainer. Since 2011, she has helped hundreds of individuals and groups learn to speak with clarity, confidence, authenticity and joy. Nancy helped start TEDxBoise and has coached TED and TEDx speakers across the world. She is the speaker coach for Idaho Listens, a community-based, connection-across-differences event held across Idaho, and is involved with a range of other political depolarization projects. She and her husband have a blended family with five adult sons and two geriatric cats. She's currently working on a nonfiction book involving her colonial ancestry, a racially motivated killing in the 1960s, and a Bob Dylan song. Any chance she gets, she sings with the Boise-based soul band, The Soulmates.

  • Todd Cranney is Managing Partner of Riverwood Strategies, bringing decades of experience leading major national and state-level political campaigns. Before co-founding his Idaho-based firm, he served as National Deputy Political Director for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, overseeing teams in key battleground states and managing delegate relations for the Republican National Convention. 

    Todd previously held senior roles including Political Director for Meg Whitman for Governor, Western Regional Political Director for Romney 2008, and leadership positions on campaigns for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and President George W. Bush. He also served as a political appointee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and as a legislative aide to Senator Orrin Hatch.

    Raised on a family farm in southern Idaho, Todd brings both strategic insight and a deep understanding of western values to his work across Idaho and the West.