Purple State of Mind at Disney World

Of all the varied venues we’ve previewed Purple State of Mind (colleges, synagogues, coffee houses, theaters), neither John Marks or I would have predicted we’d end up at Disney World. Yet, Wendy Abberger invited us to address the annual conference of Leadership Florida. Where would 400 sharp civic leaders from business, politics, non-profits, education, and the arts gather? At the happiest (and this week, the sunniest) place on earth–the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

We brought our Purple State toolkit, some tangible suggestions for how to prepare and engage in a conversation that has the potential to escalate into something much messier than planned. From ballot measures on gay marriage or English only classrooms to debates about whether a school choir should sing Christmas songs, Florida has been caught in the cultural crossfire. This was a privileged opportunity for John and I to interact with people dedicated to making a positive difference. Leadership Florida will be hosting key debates between 2010 gubernatorial and Senate candidates. They are bringing together red and blue politicians into a civil, ‘purple state’ of debate.

As in all our Purple State appearances, the magic comes from the participants themselves–finding points of connection with our story. We heard about a small political poster that divided an architectural firm. We talked to leaders caught between generational family conflicts over gay sons and daughters. We met a West Point grad who lost friendships with classmates over differences on the Iraq war. We chatted with a talk radio host with libertarian leanings. All of them are dedicated to pushing past the petty differences that divide us to forge something deeper and more significant–a way forward that benefits all Floridians. This was a class reunion with a purpose–to build relationships amongst decision makers that consider the greater good of the entire state (as well as their particular neighborhoods).

One of the most amazing side benefits of our talks with Leadership Florida was the opportunity to bring our families to Disney World. Our wives had a rare opportunity to join the Purple State roadshow. And our children toured the Magic Kingdom together–forging friendships that may someday resemble the bond that John Marks and I have formed through the Purple State project. What a splendid opportunity to introduce my children to the place I was born–Florida. We even got to squeeze in a dinner with my father who retired at The Villages nearby.

We are so grateful to Liz Joyner of the Village Square for inviting us to Tallahassee. Liz introduced us to Wendy and all the fantastic friendships formed across the aisle through Leadership Florida. The hospitality extended by Wendy and her team has made this plunge into Florida’s waters fascinating. With more literal bullets flying from the culture wars, we feel our mission is more urgent than ever. The fireworks exploding across the Epcot Center’s global village provided an intriguing counterpoint. These were beautiful bombs exploding in air. We could have seen it as highly scripted show inside a manufactured version of the world. But instead, it provided a hopeful preview of what still might be–all nations gathering for a peaceful celebration of beauty, pageantry, and imagination. Surely, those of us dedicated to building a more welcoming world for our children will continue to find kindred spirits like Leadership Florida.