Please see below for upcoming Democracy Commitment programming.
1) Climate Change and the Nature of Belief Wednesday, February 9th, Noon – 1pm
If climate change is a matter of science, then why is it so difficult to find solutions to the climate crisis? The reality is that finding solutions requires more than scientific or technological answers. Solutions involve examining worldviews, belief systems, and identity. This event will explore the complexities behind belief and how that impacts the decisions we make. This event is part of the One Book, One College Program and the MVCC Democracy Commitment programming.
2) How Misinformation can impact political processes, policymaking and election laws March 9th: 11:00-12:00
This event will examine the role that disinformation can play in impacting election laws and policymaking. Political Science Professor and Democracy Commitment Coordinator Kevin Navratil will explore how misinformation has influenced recent voting laws, decisions to declare land a national heritage site, anti-GMO labeling, and chemical safety laws. This event is part of the One Book, One College Program and the MVCC Democracy Commitment programming.
Difficult Conversations Initiative:
Dewitt Scott: Student Support Specialist and Kevin Navratil Political Science Professor & Democracy Commitment Coordinator will lead discussions on several prominent difficult topics this semester. We hope to model and lead respectful discussions that grapple with challenging topics in order to foster collaborative discussion that focuses more on learning from each other instead of trying to win a debate. This initiative hopes to provide a safe place to talk, disagree and grapple with challenging topics. We hope that participants come with a good faith effort to learn, listen, ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
Tentative Spring 2022 Difficult Conversations Schedule:
- Examining the racial wealth gap in America and potential solutions to reduce the gap 2/1: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed97362d01d88f5ed4feb8553e9141e6b
- Discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, goals, achievements and criticisms such as the incidence of Black on Black crime: 2/15: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx Link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=e9e0b2778bebd41eb9c898c405a74f408
- What is Critical Race Theory and why is it getting so much attention?: 3/1: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=e721b8ca0c312a2d0f7d1281c3738f859
- Why doesn’t the majority always rule: How America’s political system can thwart the will of the people 3/22: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea379344cf0f434b9cd14d7020eb97cfe
- Do college campuses have a problem with cancel culture, “wokeism”, and free speech? 4/5: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee40cb31c8f7d47fbc889da47e3a32d05
- How are cultural issues such as: transgender bathrooms, Black Lives Matter, Critical Race Theory, immigration, shifting to remote learning for K-12 public education, and defunding the police influence elections: 4/19: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec10d0f4bad320ce75b62d6ee94426b67
- Examining the erosion of democracy in the U.S. 5/3: 1:00-2:00pm WebEx link: https://morainevalley.webex.com/morainevalley/onstage/g.php?MTID=e93a634489342531ec4ab47d1259d83d1
Did you know? According to a Harvard Youth Poll from late 2021, a majority of 18-29 year old’s believe that our democracy is either “in trouble” or “failing” and 35% think there will be a second civil war during their lifetime.