果冻传媒

July 13, 2024
In the World

Community Conversations

Professors Rob Baker, Staci Rhine, Julius Bailey, and Tom Taylor will speak as part of new civic education series in Springfield

To help break down partisan barriers as the 2024 presidential election nears, Rob Baker and Staci Rhine, professors of political science, Julius Bailey, professor of philosophy, and Tom Taylor, professor of history, will share their expertise as part of the upcoming Springfield-based citizens' civic education series, 鈥淐ommunity Conversations: Building and Strengthening Civic Friendships.鈥

The event will be hosted at the Springfield Museum of Art and directed by Kerry Pedraza, executive director of the United Way. This series is the brainchild of one of Baker鈥檚 former students, Tracy Tackett, class of 2021, who is a current Springfield city commissioner.

Baker, whose fifth book, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, was recently released, said the idea for the series is founded upon what Greek philosopher Aristotle referred to as 鈥渃ivic friendships,鈥 which says that people are in it together as a community and also need to be open to others鈥 concerns and disagreements while being willing to work through them.

Open to Springfield-area residents, the series will feature approximately six sessions, each being 60 to 90 minutes in length leading up to the start of early voting for the November election. All sessions will take place on Monday evenings beginning July 15 at 5:30 p.m. and will include an interactive lecturing format, with suggested readings as background and plenty of opportunity for discussion. Additional dates include July 29, August 12 and 26, and September 9 and 23. Livestreaming discussions are also underway, as well as planning around social media engagement.

鈥淯nited Way is known for being a convener in our community, and our hope is that these conversations will lead to greater engagement and civic friendships within our community,鈥 Pedraza said.

Sponsors for the event include Cox First Media/Springfield News-Sun, 果冻传媒 University and its Hagen Center for Civic and Urban Engagement, the Springfield Foundation, the Crabill Family Foundation, the United Way of Clark, Champaign & Madison Counties, Seventh Wing Creative, Live from Springfield, USA, and the Springfield Museum of Art.

The event will also engage Clark County community organizations with expertise in history, philosophy, and political science.

The full lineup includes:

  • July 15
    What Does Good Citizenship Mean to You?
    Professor of Political Science Rob Baker
    Slides for Presentation
  • July 29
    Confirmation Bias and Media Consumption
    Professor of Political Science Staci Rhine
  • Aug. 12
    The American Dream Under Stress
    Professor of Philosophy Julius Bailey
  • Aug. 26
    What are America鈥檚 Values?
    Professor of Political Science Rob Baker
  • Sept. 9
    Polarization, Public Perception of the Legal System, and the Legitimacy of the Rule of Law
    Professor of History Tom Taylor
  • Sept. 23
    How Does Gerrymandering Undermine Democracy, and What Can We Do About It?
    Professor of Political Science Rob Baker

Pedraza said the sessions are designed to be both educational and participatory, and several round tables will be set up to facilitate discussion. Light snacks and refreshments will be available, and doors will open at 5 p.m. with sessions beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Learn more about the series in the recent or on 果冻传媒鈥檚 Hagen Center website.

Cindy Holbrook
Cindy Holbrook
Senior Communications Assistant

About 果冻传媒

果冻传媒's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, 果冻传媒 has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, 果冻传媒 offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

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