<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[KALEN ACADEMY]]></title><description><![CDATA[Fostering culture where people, our democracy & planet flourish.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/civicwisdom</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:11:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.dianekalensukra.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lead with Civility launches today as the handbook civic leaders have been waiting for—already an Amazon #1 bestseller in Government &#38; Politics—written to be in your hands at the council table, in the CAO’s office, and wherever decisions shape civic culture. 
This is not another technical manual; it is the missing piece in civic leadership training that finally addresses the culture, courage, and inner life of leaders in an age of outrage.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/lead-with-civility-a-handbook-for-uncivil-times</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d706f7c55f668b5305a042</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:28:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_0882365cec4f49ad86b21176f78b36b9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_716,h_459,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lead with Civility Earns Five-Star Literary Titan Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[Literary Titan awards Lead with Civility five stars, calling Diane Kalen-Sukra's leadership handbook a "rich, distinctive and urgently needed contribution to civic leadership, public administration and political philosophy." The review praises the book for connecting ancient wisdom with the real pressures facing today’s civic leaders—and for providing practical tools that leaders can use to confront toxicity, rebuild trust and renew civic culture.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/lead-with-civility-five-star-literary-titan-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6aa1ee3394b5dddd7490d7cd</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:03:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_bc24328600ce42e1918bd8431726ae39~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rotary's 'Service Above Self' is Lead with Civility in Action]]></title><description><![CDATA[A guest post by Dean Huard, U.S. Army veteran and former city manager, delivered a presentation on Lead with Civility by Diane Kalen-Sukra, #1 bestseller in Government &#38; Politics, to his Texan Rotary Club on July 23rd, tying it to the 4-Way Test and Service Above Self. Huard's guest essay, Battlefield to City Hall, reflects on the moral test every leader eventually faces when idealism runs headfirst into an entrenched, uncivil system.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/rotary-s-service-above-self-is-lead-with-civility-in-action</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a63aeba532301fe59f8f627</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:37:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_dee5a8a5a1ea4b00986c55b09f1c18ae~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_941,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Watching Nolan's Odyssey? A Reflection for Civic Leaders ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Tomorrow, Christopher Nolan's film of The Odyssey arrives in theatres, and millions of people who have never opened the poem will meet its story for the first time. For anyone who does, there is something far richer waiting than an adventure at sea. Beneath the storms and monsters lies one of the oldest and most useful handbooks on leadership ever written, offering timeless wisdom across the nearly 2,700 years since it was composed.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/watching-nolan-s-odyssey-a-reflection-for-civic-leaders</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a594df138e05b9fea368997</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:44:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_8a086558190d4990ace6fb907d5a0843~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_620,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nakusp: A Village Models Civic Culture Renewal]]></title><description><![CDATA[What happens when a community decides to intentionally shape its culture? In Nakusp, residents, leaders, business owners, and volunteers gathered for the "Lead with Love" initiative, featuring bestselling author Diane Kalen-Sukra. Equipped with copies of *Save Your City* and a practical roadmap for civic renewal, participants explored how kindness, civility, and shared responsibility can strengthen community life.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/nakusp-a-village-models-civic-culture-renewal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a29b36ff8e7e84c72c02ed2</guid><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:22:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_813b75d99bbd4a94ae9d874c4aa2e24d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_608,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lead with Civility: A "Landmark Commentary"]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kim Stephens, Executive Director of the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, has published a full 14-page edition of Waterbucket eNews dedicated entirely to Diane Kalen-Sukra's new book Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times, calling it a "landmark commentary".]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/lead-with-civility-a-landmark-commentary</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a1a15583455402997532d1c</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 00:46:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_6e5ddb1fe5f046719ffd43df8672e2a9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_650,h_832,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Civic leaders Launch Lead with Civility]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Saturday, May 2, civic leaders gathered for the launch of Diane Kalen-Sukra’s new book, Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times. It was not simply a book launch. It was a civic occasion, marking a message that has become increasingly urgent in local government, public service and community life: civility is not optional. It is not a soft skill. It is a condition for trust, good governance and democratic life.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/civic-leaders-launch-lead-with-civility</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fa7715438dc58e2c8d0daa</guid><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 11:56:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/Cx2pGUusVEU?si=oFNoauXe9otkPDyh" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Praise for Lead with Civility: Phoenix Arising | Dr. Ron Dart’s Prelude]]></title><description><![CDATA[Lead with Civility: A Handbook for Uncivil Times  launched this week to an extraordinary response , debuting as the #1 Amazon bestseller in Government &#38; Politics. This reception confirms what so many leaders are telling us: the hunger for sane, principled, and courageous leadership has never been greater. In this post, we’re opening the book itself to share something rare—a compelling Prelude by Dr. Ron Dart, one of Canada’s most respected scholars and public intellectuals, and the author of...]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/praise-for-lead-with-civility-phoenix-arising-dr-ron-dart-s-prelude</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d84c0ca51db32c14c41257</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:02:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_0a58d7b0c484460086a23b818ca34fe5~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Reasons to Lead with Civility in Uncivil Times]]></title><description><![CDATA[An uncomfortable truth is that incivility rises because too many leaders and citizens have come to believe it works. In the January edition of Municipal World, I explore this in my article on leading with civility in uncivil times and ways to turn the cultural tide. In the short term, it may look effective to intimidate staff, win a meeting, force an outcome, even win an election with toxic behaviour. Incivility may win a battle, but in the end you lose the war for good governance and...]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/10-reasons-to-lead-with-civility-in-uncivil-times</link><guid isPermaLink="false">697c40ceccf6db790cb20d4e</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 20:03:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_565c6cbf751647c0b0a659a35555b367~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_740,h_843,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Diane Kalen-Sukra</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Diane Kalen-Sukra Named Global Top Thinker in Local Government]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kalen Academy is delighted to share that our founder, Diane Kalen‑Sukra has been named a global Top Thinker in Local Government in 2026 by the United Kingdom's Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) in recognition of her “groundbreaking research and expertise on civic culture transformation which has catalysed a movement to renew civility and trust in public life.”
LGiU is an independent, non‑partisan organisation that has championed local democracy and supported councils for 40 years.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/diane-kalen-sukra-named-a-top-thinker-in-local-government-by-uk-think-tank</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6970034a7ec7696eebb7233c</guid><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:34:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_f07ef83efe0f46dd8faade6ce96a7535~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_579,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Metanoia: 2026 Word of the Year]]></title><description><![CDATA[Each January, instead of resolutions, I choose a single word. Resolutions focus on what we do. A word, however, sets the tone. Like a tuning fork, once struck, it shapes how we hear everything else — how we see, judge, and respond. In recent years, those words have named what felt most absent in our civic life. This year, the word is Metanoia. A moral turning.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/metanoia-2026-word-of-the-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6961ad7041b846e43e7ebdcd</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_5793b9463436416b9510ee35d99a3a75~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_563,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Diane Kalen-Sukra</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stoics model courageous citizenship]]></title><description><![CDATA[This past weekend, the world’s largest gathering of Stoics explored a question that feels more urgent than ever: What kind of citizen does this moment require? Between apathy and outrage, the Stoics offer a third way—one grounded in moral courage, civic duty, and thoughtful engagement in public life. Diane Kalen-Sukra was honored to contribute to the program with my talk, “What Would a Stoic Say? Civil Discourse in an Age of Outrage”.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/stoics-model-courageous-citizenship</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f7ff4132ef022fab11d9c0</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:15:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_183f7cf440094e25acf679bfd86d8bf3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Diane Kalen-Sukra</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Civil Discourse in an Age of Outrage]]></title><description><![CDATA[Join us at Stoicon 2025, the world’s largest gathering of modern Stoics, happening Saturday, October 18 (10 am–5 pm EDT). This year’s theme—Engaged Citizenship—could not be more timely. I’ll be speaking on “Civil Discourse in an Age of Outrage,” exploring how Stoic wisdom can cultivate courageous citizenship— the kind that is outspoken yet principled, well-reasoned yet able to listen and understand. ]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/civil-discourse-in-an-age-of-outrage</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f0da863a7f7edc150b98a7</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:49:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_663803140f0d4cc293ac524e5faf151e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_720,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Axe the Incivility Tax on Local Government this Fall ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This fall, voters in Alberta, Nunavut, and Quebec will choose more than mayors and councillors. They will decide whether to keep paying the hidden incivility tax that is crippling local democracy and wasting tax dollars.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/axe-the-incivility-tax-on-local-government-this-fall</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e744c24bab99a04638b62e</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:35:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_8e21b27398c34b30bb4ffdedde07f5ad~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Diane Kalen-Sukra</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Civility Summit 2026: Leading Through Uncivil Times]]></title><description><![CDATA[Registration for Civility Summit 2026 is OPEN—one year after our inaugural summit united 450+ civic leaders from 350 cities, 10 countries.➡️You're invited! Join 20+ visionary civic leaders and world-renowned experts online for practical and empowering tools YOU can use to lead boldly in uncivil times and foster a culture of civility.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/registration-open-civility-summit-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68e63c4d5beeffe55eab521a</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:31:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_968e50215a34450dabf1bae8a5c057b2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Be Civil. Elect Civil. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This fall, Canadians in several jurisdictions will have the chance to Elect Civil. Elect civil means using your vote to support leaders who lead with civility, not just talk about them, people who build bridges, engage respectfully, and lead with integrity. Diane Kalen-Sukra first shared the call to "Be Civil. Elect Civil" in her Spring 2024 article published by the National Civic Review, "Incivility Anywhere is a Threat to Civility Everywhere".]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/be-civil-elect-civil</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6899ee374d23f3b3541abd02</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 13:41:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_369379e4739547b1bb8dba838c70d951~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is Civility—Really?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Given our divided times, it’s wise to pause and reflect on what civility truly means—beyond mere politeness or its misuse as a means to silence dissent—and consider the deeper significance and essential role it plays in shaping culture, leadership, and the survival of democracy.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/what-is-civility-really</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68950a5a979ca91c7c3edda9</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 20:44:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/NSaDFxnhpxQ?si=iAs_qnOOHPdvQ7na" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Importance of Civility in Democracy: Join the Elect Respect Movement]]></title><description><![CDATA[Civic culture doesn’t collapse overnight. It erodes gradually—through tone, trust, and behavior. And that tone is shaped by the people we elect, the way we treat them, and—just as importantly—the way we treat each other. That’s why the Elect Respect pledge matters.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/make-civility-win-at-the-ballot-box</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6877ddce98e9e24ce4934ef2</guid><category><![CDATA[Civility]]></category><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 23:10:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_2942fe11622d457f9a5c66ea5cbf699a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_800,h_411,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Real Heroes of Middle Earth]]></title><description><![CDATA[You're invited to rethink The Lord of the Rings. Not as a fantasy epic about kings and wizards, but as a parable about humble public service. Not about the lust for power, but the quiet strength of those who prioritize people, justice and community. ]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/the-real-heroes-of-middle-earth-public-servants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6838edfdaa6d016633b1f807</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 14:34:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_eefc299478f2402c8a8ee30783614c5c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_965,h_724,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What would Plato do?]]></title><description><![CDATA[You're invited to this gathering of minds wrestling with a question as urgent today as it was 2400 years ago: Can democracy survive itself? Diane Kalen-Sukra will be joining a powerful lineup of speakers at "Democracy &#38; Tyranny", a virtual event hosted by Plato's Academy.]]></description><link>https://www.dianekalensukra.com/post/what-would-plato-do</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6838aa88742af72cfe8f7a28</guid><category><![CDATA[Community Action]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisdom]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ideas]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 19:03:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3b3099_11c7c502c15a48d4b9f7ff5810c97d24~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_991,h_629,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Kalen Academy</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>