NEH Citizenship Under Siege Open Forum
The Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement partnered with the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and The Democracy Commitment (TDC) to sponsor a local public forum entitled “Citizenship Under Siege”.
William O’ Rourke, emeritus professor, The University of Notre Dame and Dr. Nancy Beck Young, University of Houston history professor will speak on the subject of inequality and broaden the discussion from political or economic perspectives to how it effects the humanities. After they speak, there will be question and answer period followed by deliberative dialogue.
“We are delighted to offer Lone Star College students and members of the community the opportunity to take part in this very important dialogue,” said Dr. John Theis, director, LSC Center for Civic Engagement. “These public forums are grounded in the nation’s history and explore creative ways to use the power of the humanities to bridge differences and build strong communities.”
The AAC&U and TDC recently received a $200,000 grant from the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) to sponsor a series of public forums across the country. LSC was one of seven community colleges selected to host a forum.
“We need the humanities, now more than ever, because they give us access to the most fundamental and consequential dimensions and forces of our experience,” said William D. Adams, NEH chairman.
In addition to LSC, City University Kingsborough Community College, New York; Middlesex Community College, Massachusetts; County College of Morris, New Jersey; Santa Fe College, Florida; Mount Wachusett Community College, Massachusetts; and Miami Dade College, Florida will also participate and host similar forums.
Below is the full encapsulation of the forum. Please enjoy and enlighten yourself.
Welcome by LSC-North Harris President Gerald Napoles HD
A full house – LSC Students and Community Members
Introduction of forum by Profesor Ralph Angeles
Presentations by the distinguished speakers
Both speakers explained wealth disparity and income inequality. They listed the factors that were causal. More importantly, they drew the map that brought us to this point. Understanding how we got here is essential in mapping the path back to a better life giving all access to success.
- Notre Dame Professor Emeritus William O’Rourke speech and Q & A
- University of Houston Professor Nancy Beck Young speech and Q & A
Professors Chris Phlegar and Michael Moode frame the Deliberative Dialogue
Professor Chris Phlegar framed the problem that is our current politics. He introduced the moderators that navigated each table through a deliberative dialogue. Professor Michael Moode showed the video that described the topic for the deliberative dialogue, Making Ends Meet, a National Issues Forum project that presented three options for ‘solving’ our prosperity problem (inequality problem).
Professor Chris Phlegar introduces deliberative dialogue moderators
Professor Michael Moode explains the deliberative dialogue Process
The Deliberative Dialogue in Action
Each table participated in a 50-minute dialogue where every interchanged ideas. Most importantly, the debate procedure required everyone to listen to each speaker deliberately before engaging. Each table had many with different political viewpoints. Yet communication occurred without shouting are talking over each other. The young moderators performed exceptionally well.
LSC Center for Civic Engagement Director Dr. John J. Theis Closes the Forum
Video playlist and pictured in one place here.