Events
Civil Discourse Symposium
Date and Time
Monday, November 3, 2014 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Description
Civil Discourse for Civic Engagement
Date: November 3, 2014
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m
Location: Charles W. Loosemore Forum, L. William Seidman Building
In recognition of the important role civil discourse plays in cooperative governmental decision-making, the symposium will be held on the eve of Election Day, November 3rd at 5:00 in the multi-purpose room of the L. William Seidman Building. The symposium expands on the civil discourse course, Detroit’s Public Dialogues: Listening Across Differences, Seeing Beyond Stereotypes, Talking Among Communities and will feature four panelists whose social justice community work exemplify the successes of peace-based, neighborhood-nurturing initiatives happening in Detroit. The process of decision-making, whether choosing a political leader or determining the agenda for a neighborhood meeting, requires a commitment to stick with the process of collaboration, regardless of how contentious the voicing of opinions might become. We will hear from Detroiters who have made this commitment and learn how civil discourse is part of Detroit’s revolution. We welcome Ron Scott, Myrtle Thompson-Curtis, Richard Feldman and Kim Sherobbi, who will lead us in an evening of dialogue (see below).
We will begin with a showing of the film, “We are not Ghosts,” (see below) which highlights Detroit community initiatives and features panelists of the symposium as well as many of the people with whom students in the Detroit’s Public Dialogues course will work. After the film, panelists will talk about their work and the way civil discourse is part of community collaboration. We will then open the conversation to everyone for an interactive community dialogue, moderated by civil discourse professor, Lisa M. Perhamus.
A special thank you to Richard Feldman and the James & Grace Lee Boggs Center for Nurturing Community Leadership for their support and partnership in the planning of this event.
Information
For more information, please visit: http://www.gvsu.edu/civildiscourse