6,000 Central Floridians Commit to Disagree Without Dehumanizing

Leaders from diverse backgrounds gather to launch Year Three of the Central Florida Pledge

Jan. 29, 2026 at 3:07pm

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More than 200 local leaders from business, faith communities, education, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector will gather in Orlando for an invitation-only event marking the launch of Year Three of the Central Florida Pledge. The pledge has grown to over 6,000 individuals and organizations committed to treating each other with dignity and respect, even in moments of deep disagreement.

Why it matters

In a time of heightened political and social divisions, the Central Florida Pledge aims to model how communities can move from entrenched conflict toward durable peace and shared civic life by focusing on how people treat one another, rather than on policy positions or political outcomes.

The details

The Central Florida Pledge is not organized around shared ideology or policy goals, but instead centers on shared expectations for how leaders treat one another in moments of disagreement. Participants represent a wide range of political, religious, and personal perspectives. The event will feature insights from leaders in Northern Ireland who played key roles in the peace process, focusing on lessons for building bridges across divides.

  • The Central Florida Pledge Leaders Summit will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
  • The Central Florida Pledge was launched in 2024 and is now in its third year.

The players

Alan Ginsburg

Founder of the Central Florida Pledge.

Dr. Joel C. Hunter

Chairman of the Central Florida Pledge and longtime national faith leader. Previously served with the Bush Administration's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and later as a spiritual advisor to President Obama.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't about policy or politics. It's about how we treat one another when disagreement is real. Staying connected with dignity and respect is becoming rare, and that's exactly why this work matters.”

— Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Chairman, Central Florida Pledge (PRNewswire)

What’s next

The Second Annual Central Florida Pledge Awards will be presented at the event, honoring Civic, Service, Education, Faith, and Student Leader of the Year.

The takeaway

The Central Florida Pledge demonstrates that even in deeply divided times, communities can find common ground by focusing on shared values of dignity and respect, rather than on policy differences. This model offers a path forward for other regions grappling with political and social polarization.