Governors Show Service is Key to “Disagreeing Better”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox (right)

By Denver Region Media Specialist Corey Christiansen

When the holiday season arrives, showing patience, kindness and respect for each other – even those we disagree with – often comes a bit easier. Making that a year round practice though is the emphasis of Utah’s and Colorado’s governors who recently joined forces for a service-oriented event just outside of Denver.

At a conference of the National Governors Association (NGA), Utah Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) and Colorado Governor Jared Polis (Democrat) worked to further their message that all Americans can bridge the partisan divide and adopt a more positive approach to political and social discourse. It’s part of NGA Chair Cox’s initiative called Disagree Better. The two governors were also joined by Gov. Greg Gianforte from Montana and Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma along with community, education and faith leaders from the Denver metro area.

During the conference, Governor Cox pointed out that service is a powerful way to come together and overcome divisions. His wife, Utah First Lady Abby Cox, invited JustServe Denver to create a service project for participants. In partnership with Community Food Share, the governors and others at the NGA meeting assembled more than 350 meal kits for the nearby CU (University of Colorado) Buffs Food Pantry.

Katie Moon, the Denver North Communication Council JustServe Specialist and one of the service project organizers commented, “It is always a joy to see how giving service can bring people together!  We have people from different political parties, socioeconomic statuses, ability levels, and job backgrounds – all serving together – smiling, laughing and having a great time while helping those in need.  As we serve together and get to know one another, it makes it easier to have those hard conversations, and ‘disagree better’.”  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated the items for the kits which included student-friendly meal items: soup, granola bars, fruit snacks, pop tarts, chili, oatmeal and potatoes. JustServe volunteers also helped conference participants assemble the kits.

Community Food Share distributes food in Boulder and Broomfield Counties and is a Feeding America food bank. While some participants packed food boxes, others enjoyed some competitive games of cornhole with athletes from the Special Olympics.