Waging Democracy
A number of social observers believe that for years, our democracy has been deteriorating. From our political to electoral to judicial systems, they say there have been cracks and decay that threaten the security of racial, religious and ethnic minority communities.
The JCRC in partnership with The Commonwealth Club and other organizations, is hosting Waging Democracy, a day-long forum to examine the issue.
Commonwealth Club President and CEO Dr. Gloria Duffy will moderate the opening program.
Featuring:
Yascha Mounk, lecturer on government at Harvard University, senior fellow in the Political Reform Program at New America and executive director at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, on exciting efforts underway to rise above politics and come together across party lines to safeguard our democracy.
Audrey Cooper, editor-in-chief of the San Francisco Chronicle in conversation with Marisa Lagos, political reporter at KQED, on the crucial role a free media plays in informing the public in our democracy.
Kristen Cambell, executive director of Philanthropy for Civic Engagement, and Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer, executive director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, on how we find common language and engage beyond dogmatic vitriol.
Keynote Speaker: Aziz Huq, assistant professor at the University of Chicago Law School and author of How to Save a Constitutional Democracy (2018)
Co-Chairs: Leslie Katz, Greenberg Traurig; Kristin Olsen, Stanislaus County Supervisor and former Minority Leader at the California State Assembly; and Professor Dan Schnur, University of Southern California and UC Berkeley
Opening Session, Our Democracy: What is the state of our democracy? What is happening to our norms and institutions? Who is/isn't our democracy working for and why? And what areas are at risk at this time?
Moderator: Gloria Duffy, Executive Director, The Commonwealth Club
Panelists: Ian Bassin, Executive Director, Protect Democracy Project; Wendy Weiser, Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice; Mickey Edwards, Vice President and Program Director, The Aspen Institute
Workshops: Choose from these interactive workshops:
· "Organizing for Democracy" with Helen Greico, Common Cause
· "You be the Judge" with Lindsey Morris, National Council of Jewish Women
· "Every Vote Counts!" with Kimberley D.C. Schroder, Resistance Labs
Full schedule available at:
https://jcrc.org/uploads/WD_program_092718.pdf
Partners: Protect Democracy Project, University of San Francisco’s Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good, and The Commonwealth Club
Co-Sponsors: ACLU of Northern California, Brennan Center for Justice, KQED, Office of the Assessor-Recorder for the City & County of San Francisco, Recology, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, San Francisco Human Rights Commission, San Francisco State University, ADL, Catholic Charities San Francisco, Congregation Emanu-El, Congregation Sherith Israel, J. The Jewish News of Northern California, JCCSF, JFCS, JFCS East Bay, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Jewish Federation of the East Bay/The Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, National Council of Jewish Women, Peninsula Jewish Community Center, San Francisco Interfaith Council, USF Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice, and United Religions Initiative
Financial support provided by: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Fox Rothschild LLP, Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Sideman & Bancroft LLP and Zander Family
University of San Francisco
McLaren Conference Center
2130 Fulton St
San Francisco, 94117
United States
See list at left
