Virtual Workshop & Teach-In: November 20, 2020 Grassroots Democracy: Beyond the General Election, Workshop & Teaching facilitated by Erika Brown & Tony Vento In this workshop, we will explore what democracy can and does look like beyond the general election. We invite participants to join us in discussion about the power of democratizing space, rooted in the traditions of popular education for social action and community network building. We will also discuss and practice strategies for fostering grassroots democracy, through…

Virtual Workshop & Teach-In: Dec 18, 2020 Organizers Organize Organizations, Workshop & Teach-In facilitated by Phyllis Harris In this workshop, we explore the tensions, opportunities, and challenges of being activists within organizations. What does it mean to be a “activist-manager”? How can organizational leaders meet the needs of the organizations—from fundraising to service delivery—while staying true to their activist identities? We invite participants to join us in discussion as we examine these questions and more.     Facilitated by: Phyllis Harris,…

Virtual Workshop, October 23 In this workshop, we will explore the history and use of the Op-Ed for social action, as well as the changing media landscape. We will also discuss strategies for successfully pitching & crafting an Op-Ed or editorial. About the facilitators: Barb Hipsman Springer, Retired Journalism faculty who specialized in media ethics, public affairs reporting and interviewing skills. Previously, Hipsman was a statehouse reporter in Illinois. She has been active in the League of Women Voters for…

Cleveland OH: February 12, 2020 | Kent OH: February 13, 2020 Promoting Intersectoral Action to Address LGBTQ+ Inequities – A community workshop facilitated by Sean McCandless, Ph.D. Sean McCandless, Ph.D., works as an Assistant Professor of Public Administration as well as the Associate Director of the Doctorate in Public Administration Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield. He currently serves as the chair of the American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) Section on Democracy and Social Justice and is…

Cleveland, OH: October 17, 2019 Introducing participants to the various ways we can make our voices heard in the public sphere. From letter writing to door knocking to protesting and community organizing – it all begins with telling our stories. Presented by Jerry Peña. Jerry was born in the “Windy City” of Chicago and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. In Ohio, Jerry was very involved in the community; he was Chair of the Civic Involvement Committee, where he had the responsibility…

Kent OH: September 19, 2019  | Cleveland OH: September 19, 2019 Together we will examine the role of the media in shaping a thriving democracy, focusing on the ways in which media are often the gatekeepers for political agenda-setting or the drivers of narrative framing. The guest speaker for the Kent event is Dr. Meghan Rubado of Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. Dr. Rubado’s research focuses on local governments and their cooperation for service provision and other…

Cleveland OH: May 23, 2019   Government bureaucracy often creates administrative burdens – obstacles to navigating government – that we don’t normally see or talk much about. These obstacles can have big effects on how we interact with government or even access public information. Sometimes these obstacles are important (the IRS has to protect citizen’s identities!), but other times they are a result of outdated systems – or worse, intentional barriers created to make policies, benefits, or information less accessible.…