This forum, presented by Collin County Votes and powered by the Collin County Business Alliance, or CCBA, brought together a diverse group of residents to discuss political civility.
The program is designed to boost civic engagement, strengthen community ties and spark regional collaboration through open, respectful dialogue on key issues affecting Collin County residents.
Former Texas state Sen. Florence Shapiro kicked off the forum by emphasizing the importance of genuine dialogue.
"[Civility involves] listening to one another so we may understand one another,” Shapiro said.
The goal is to foster respectful, fact-based engagement among individuals with differing viewpoints.
Shapiro then introduced Ben Pruett, chairman of the PROSPER Exchange—a program that promotes civic conversation and directly inspired this county-wide forum.
“[The Exchange’s mission is] to present topics in a manner that creates conversation, and that evokes curiosity and civility,” Pruett said.
The opening remarks were followed by a moderated discussion featuring local legislators Jeff Leach (Texas House District 67) and Mihaela Plesa (Texas House District 70). Key discussion points included defining civility within a legislative context, how elected leaders engage across party lines and avenues for citizens to participate in the civic process.
Key takeaways from the discussion
Civility and disagreement: Representative Leach highlighted the rarity of bipartisan collaboration.
"You would be hard-pressed to find a republican and a democrat sharing a stage together anywhere in this country. That doesn’t happen anymore. I’m glad to be here tonight,” Leach said.
Importance of dissent: Rep. Plesa underscored the value of allowing minority voices.
“The space that we create for dissent is very important. How we allow the minority party to dissent ... that’s the greatest measure of civility,” Plesa said.
Working across the aisle: Plesa shared her approach to bipartisan engagement.
“I just tried to be as real as possible, and to get to know my colleagues,” Plesa said. “Once you’ve figured out what their district is like, then you can come to them with a policy issue.”
Public access and participation: Leach emphasized his commitment to responsiveness.
“My cell phone is on my website,” Leach said. “If you care enough about an issue, I am going to meet with you. I promise you that.”
Call to action: Both legislators encouraged active civic involvement.
“Find something you want to be involved in and be consistent,” Leach said.
Plesa added onto that.
“Keep talking to one another, and stay optimistic,” Plesa said. “We don’t have to agree on everything, that’s what makes our country so great.”
Following the panel discussion, attendees participated in small-group table conversations facilitated by volunteers from Project Unity. These sessions encouraged reflection on authenticity, listening and shared humanity. Richie Butler, founder of Project Unity, explained the purpose.
“Your job, when it’s not your turn, is to simply listen,” Butler said. “We’re trying to humanize each other.”
The evening concluded with a hopeful tone of engagement.
“It’s rare to feel heard and to hear someone you disagree with and still feel respected,” one participant said.
Why this matters
The CCBA said that given Collin County's population growth, economic shifts and often-contentious civic environment, the need for grounded, civil conversation is paramount. By bringing residents and leaders together in structured, respectful dialogue, Collin County Connects aims to foster trust, broaden understanding and strengthen community bonds.
Next steps
Collin County Votes intends to host future Collin County Connects sessions, each focusing on different issues of community importance. Residents and community leaders are encouraged to stay informed about upcoming forums by signing up for updates.
Voting information
Are you voting November 4? Follow Collin County Votes on social media and online to find useful information about upcoming elections.
About Collin County Votes
Collin County Votes is a non-partisan voting campaign initiated by the CCBA. CCBA engages business leaders and fosters collaboration with stakeholders to drive regional impact in key areas, ensuring the vibrancy of the community’s future. Collin County Votes does not endorse candidates.
The above story was produced by the Collin County Business Alliance team with Community Impact's Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
