The Association for Women in Communications Santa Barbara will present Communicating in a Polarized Society with Tania Israel, a professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14 at Workzones in Santa Barbara.
Also on the program, architect Cass Ensberg will be honored with the 2026 Lois Phillips Founder’s Award.
The event is free to attend for AWC-SB members; $25 for guests. For more information and to register, visit the AWC-SB website.
Political polarization in the U.S. is at a record high. As news, social media, and biases drive the wedge ever deeper, families, communities and democracy suffer the fallout of societal divisions, AWC-SB notes.
How can communication leaders combat polarizing forces, manage interpersonal conflict, and cultivate a public voice in this fraught context? Israel offers some solutions.
Grounded in evidence, experience and skills, she will share perspectives and strategies that will leave you informed, optimistic, and empowered to take action, AWC-SB said.
“We’re excited to have Dr. Tania Israel and anticipate a great turnout for this event,” said Ana Papakhian, AWC-SB Board president. “She’s a highly engaging speaker and we’re looking forward to her presentation.
“Her effective communication strategies empower us to improve our personal well-being, relationships, community and country.”
The 2026 Lois Phillips Founder’s Award, which will be presented to Ensberg, is given to individuals who are outspoken on an issue or communicate a need that would otherwise not be addressed.
“Cass Ensberg addresses issues that are controversial, including city planning policies that affect local architecture and our downtown area,” Phillips said.
“She communicates her feedback and ideas in presentations, published op-eds, commission discussions, and the political debates that will shape the future,” Phillips said.
“As a professional woman, Ensberg is a role model for those of us who might avoid controversies, even when we have important and fresh ideas to share,” Phillips said.
Israel is an award-winning author of “Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide” (APA, 2020), and “Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation” (Greenleaf, 2024).
She has shared her expertise on navigating political conflict the TODAY show, The New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR, as well as on her podcast “Ready to Be Strong.”
For more, visit TaniaIsrael.com.
Ensberg will receive the Lois Phillips Founder’s Award 2026 for being a dynamic spokesperson advocating for affordable housing and the restoration of the historic El Pueblo Viejo Landmark District.
Ensberg writes and speaks about a range of ways to achieve the dynamism of downtown Santa Barbara and State Street.
Principal of Ensberg Jacobs Design, she is also a volunteer to programs such as Kids Draw Architecture, and has served on boards, commissions and committees.
For more about AWC-SB, visit awcsb.org.