Georgia College Receives Higher Education Civic Engagement Award
Posted: October 8, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: awards, civic engagement, democracy, Georgia College, Gregg Kaufman, Higher Education, public engagement Leave a comment
Gregg Kaufman
Gregg Kaufman, a member of the National Issues Forums Institute (NIFI), has shared news about recognition of civic engagement work at Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia. The following is excerpted from a media release describing the work and the award. Click here to read the full announcement.
Georgia College received the 2014 Higher Education Civic Engagement Award, one of only five universities in the country acknowledged this year. The award is presented by The Washington Center and the New York Life Foundation.
The award recognizes institutions for their dedication to civic engagement through mutually transformational partnerships that address public concern at any level—from local to global.
Georgia College was selected from more than a hundred nominations for the Live Healthy Baldwin Program coordinated through the Georgia College Center for Health and Social Issues….
“The Live Healthy Baldwin program has provided a unique and important bridge between the university and community, while offering students, faculty and staff opportunities to work with the community in substantive ways” said Gregg Kaufman, who coordinated the award application. “Working with community partners to improve citizens’ health and fitness is a mutually beneficial endeavor.”
Join an Online National Issues Forum: “America’s Future – What Should Our Budget Priorities Be?”
Posted: October 7, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: America, budget, democracy, National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia, online deliberation, public engagement Leave a comment(The following invitation is from Bill Corbett, National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia)
You are invited to National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia’s (NIFNVA) next online National Issues Forum, a small, moderated, chat-based deliberation on a critical issue facing America.
It takes place Monday, October 20 at 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm EDT. All you need to participate is a web browser and the willingness to use chat for conversation.
The topic is America’s Future — What Should Our Budget Priorities Be? The list of options we’ll discuss are in a brief two-page summary paper at this link. The list provides the road map for our discussion. If you’d like to watch a three-minute video that previews the topic, you can view it on our website by clicking here.
You can register by reply to this message or by completing the online form at the new website of National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia. The forum is limited to twelve people.
The forum uses a new software tool from the Kettering Foundation that brings moderated deliberation on national issues to a wider audience.
Above is a screen shot of a common ground graphic produced by an online National Issues Forum in September. The graphic reflects the results after five people worked through a set of choices on immigration policy. The two tables at the bottom left of the graphic reveal their top choices — before and after their discussion. If you want a closer look at those results, visit the forum report here and click on the image to enlarge it.
I hope you are as interested as I am in helping to develop this new tool for more people to participate in political life.
You Are Invited to “Text, Talk, Act”
Posted: October 6, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: democracy, mental health, mental illness, national conversation, public engagement, text talk act Leave a comment(From Sue McCormack’s blog):
Wherever you are. Whenever you’re ready. Whoever you’re with. It’s time to Text, Talk, Act.
Text “START” to 89800, and join the conversation.
We are busting through the silence and talking about mental health. How do you take care of yours? What will you do when a friend needs help with theirs?
All across the nation today, this conversation is HAPPENING. Young people are leading the way, but the conversation is for everyone. Don’t miss out. Grab your phone, find a few people and add your voice.
You’ll be glad you did, because a small act of kindness can make a BIG difference.
AND, you’ll be entered into a chance to win a $200 gift card from Amazon.
Learn more: www.creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact
In Canada? Short code not working? Text START to 778-588-1995
Monday, September 29th, Join an Online National Issues Forum: “Immigration in America”
Posted: September 23, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: democracy, immigration, online deliberation, public engagement, public issues 1 Comment
(The following invitation is from Bill Corbett, National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia. You can contact him at Bill_Corbett_NIF_of_Northern_Vir@mail.vresp.com.)
I’m writing invite you to an upcoming online National Issues Forum, a small, moderated, chat-based deliberation on a critical issue facing America.
It takes place on Monday, September 29 at 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm EDT. All you need to participate is a web browser and the willingness to use chat for conversation.
The topic is Immigration in America — How Do We Fix a System in Crisis? The issue guide is at this link. The issue guide provides the road map for our discussion and essential background. If you’d like to watch a three-minute video that previews the topic, you can view it on our website by clicking here.
You can register by reply to this message or by completing the online form at the new website of National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia. The forum is limited to twelve people…first-come, first-served…but more forums are coming.
The forum uses a new software tool from the Kettering Foundation thatbrings moderated deliberation on national issues to a wider audience.
Above is a screen shot of a common ground graphic produced by an online National Issues Forum earlier this month. It is the product of ten people working through the issues together in a discussion about how to fix American politics.
I hope you are as interested as I am in helping to develop this new tool for more people to participate in political life. Sincerely,
Bill Corbett National Issues Forums of Northern Virginia
At Georgia College – A Teach-In: “Events in Ferguson, Missouri”
Posted: September 11, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: democracy, Georgia, Georgia College, Higher Education, public engagement, public issues Leave a comment(The following news is from Gregg Kaufman, Gregg.kaufman@gcsu.edu at Georgia College.)
A standing room only crowd of nearly 150 students, faculty, staff, and community citizens attended a teach-in that addressed the events in Ferguson, MO and the related issues of race, class, and inequity in American society. Panelists representing a variety of academic disciplines and campus safety spoke, after which audience members asked questions.
The presentations included “The Talk” that many young African American males hear about self-protection, black male stereotypes, sociological principles such as “othering,” human geography scales, and finally a critical thinking process based on the principle of charitable interpretation.
Approximately half the audience represented local citizens and several people commented that they hoped more teach-ins would provide opportunities for learning and dialogue. Another common idea involved hosting a conversation among campus and community citizens with the police departments that share responsibility for public safety.
A student-led educational event and candlelight vigil for Michael Brown and the Ferguson community was held the next evening on the front campus.
Ending the Silence on Mental Health: One Text Message at a Time
Posted: September 10, 2014 Filed under: News and Views | Tags: deliberation, democracy, mental health, mental illness, public engagement Leave a comment(The following article about the upcoming Text, Talk, Act initiative is from the Creating Community Solutions Project.)
One in four adults suffer from this in any given year. If it were cancer, diabetes or heart disease, we’d label it an epidemic. The once silent killer has suddenly starting screaming at us everywhere we go. It’s rocking our communities, and it’s affecting our families. “It” is the state of our mental health – and it’s time we all started talking about it. And given that ¾ of all mental health problems begin between the ages of 14 and 24, young people desperately need to have this conversation. But how do you bring up the elephant in the room? And how do you talk about something that’s been left in the shadows for so long?
Right now, across the country, young people are finally having this conversation. Through text messaging, groups of emerging adults are receiving discussion questions to start the conversation, and are given resources to learn how to take care of themselves and how to help a friend in need. These brave young people are ending the silence and taking to social media to encourage others to talk about the elephant in the room.
On Monday, October 6th, this conversation will go nationwide. Anyone, anywhere, at any time can join this vital effort. It’s easy:
1. Gather 3-4 people* and text START to 89800
2. Talk with their group using the text-enable questions
3. Be part of the change
To encourage the conversation, participants can win prizes for themselves or their schools/community organizations. One of 10 lucky winners (between the ages of 18-24) will receive $500 and a 3 $1,000 prizes will go to a winning high school, college and community organization. In addition, three lucky participants will receive an iPad mini. Visit bit.ly/TTAcontest for more details and to register.
Groups that can’t join the nationwide discussion on Oct. 6th can host a Text, Talk, Act event any time from now through the end of October. Simply text START to 89800 to begin.**
This initiative was developed in concert with Creating Community Solutions, part of the National Dialogue on Mental Health, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, The National Institute for Civil Discourse, Everyday Democracy, American Association of Suicidology, National Alliance on Mental Health, the National Campus Leadership Council, and Crisis Text Line.
*Don’t have 3-4 peeps with you on Oct 6? Join the discussion on Twitter using #TextTalkAct
**From Canada? Short codes blocked on your phone? Use 7785881995
