Introduction

• Barbara Jean Walsh (UUMUAC board member) introduces speaker Dan Kenney, a retired teacher and founder of Rooted for Good (formerly DeKalb County Community Gardens).
• The focus of the talk is The Dignity Index, a tool created in 2022 by the University of Utah and partners through the UNITE initiative to measure dignity vs. contempt in language.

What is the Dignity Index?

• An 8-point scale:
  • 1–4 → contempt, dehumanization, divisive speech.
  • 5–8 → dignity, respect, constructive dialogue.
• Purpose: to ease divisions, prevent violence, and foster healthier debate.

Key Themes

• Definition of dignity: rooted in the Latin  ...