GARY, Ind. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Next week is the fifth annual World Civility Day, started by the President of the Gary Chamber of Commerce. And, he said, it's more relevant than ever.
Gary Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Hughes came up with the idea that started as a chamber campaign called Community Civility Counts. He said he thought it was a little corny, at first, setting aside a day for civility, but he saw a need.
"I told them, this might sound corny, but they loved the idea," Hughes said.
Community Civility Counts, spread locally and globally, and July 8 has since morphed into World Civility Day.
"I am very surprised, but what it indicated to me is that people are yearning at least for some kind of proactivity that's going to modify some of the behaviors that we are seeing now," Hughes said.
"When I started five years ago, I was trying to look at sporadic cases of incivility...but now, if you look at what's going on now, in terms in what's happening with our nationally elected officials, the community, and the police, and race. I mean listen, now there is a plethora of reasons."
Hughes said his involvement in this has changed him.
"When someone cuts me off now, I don't tell them they are number one," Hughes laughed.
On July 8, there will be workshops on bullying and civility in the workplace, and a dinner with speakers, including lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.
And Governor Eric Holcomb is issuing a proclamation to declare World Civility Day in the state.
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