Mediation Services of Adams County (MSAC) partnered with Urban Rural Action (URA) on “Uniting to Prevent Political Violence,” completed in 2024. While that project has ended, its tools and lessons remain relevant today. This work also connects to our most recent collaboration with URA, “Uniting for Safe and Strong Communities in South-Central Pennsylvania,” also non-partisan community action project that brings people together to bring focus to a problem in their community.  

Why This Matters Locally 

Political violence isn’t just a distant issue. Even in smaller communities like ours, national tensions can spill into local disputes, putting relationships, institutions, and safety at risk. Research shows that when everyday incivility goes unchecked, it can escalate into distrust and, eventually, threats or violence. Our efforts focus on breaking that cycle early by equipping residents to choose dialogue over division.

Tools for Prevention

Through this work, MSAC developed practical, accessible tools to strengthen everyday civility:

Talk Tents at community events invited children and adults to share ideas and stories across differences.

Conversation Cards encouraged respectful discussion of sensitive topics, available in both English and Spanish at Adams County Libraries or through MSAC.

Yard Signs with messages about unity and preventing political violence were placed throughout Adams County — many of which can still be seen today as reminders of our shared commitment to civility.

De-escalation Step Cards provide quick, clear guidance for handling tense conversations and calming conflict before it escalates.

Civility Rules Booklets give practical tools for practicing respect and dialogue in daily life. You can download a copy or get a printed one from MSAC.

Civility Rules Videos use local people to spread word about Civility Rules in a fun non-confrontational way.