Center for Character and Social Responsibility
Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
Be Prepared to Build a World of Good
2 Silber Way, Boston MA, 02215
2022 Ryan Symposium
Alicia Garza on Caring, Character, and Community
April 14, 2022
4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
https://bostonu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpde6ppzMoHtKgFWMYUV0dZYtD5ammxcal
Greetings,
For the past year, the CCSR has focused on the role of leadership during this time of multiple challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising awareness of systemic racism following the killing of George Floyd, and the deepening polarization of American civic society. And now we watch with despair as the assault on Ukraine continues in direct contrast to all aspirations for international well-being. As educators, we chose to have conversations with leaders who are focused on how we can prepare the next generation to become caring and effectively engaged citizens. We focused on personal development, professional development, program development and implementation, and on systems change. We interviewed educational and community leaders to learn how they integrated the ethic of caring, a focus on their own and others’ character development, and the value of community in order to meet the needs and aspirations of the students and adults with which they worked. Here is a link to that podcast series, Caring, Character and Community.
One of the themes that has emerged from these conversations is the importance of building a community of care as we seek to help others and our world to flourish. To help us go deeper into this conversation, we are delighted to let you know that Alicia Garza, author, political strategist, and freedom dreamer, has agreed to spend time with us to share her ideas about, and experience in, building communities of care that engage diverse groups of people and ideas. We are also delighted to let you know that our colleague Kenn Elmore, caregiver, thought partner, and community builder, has agreed to moderate our discussion with Ms. Garza.
To make the most of this opportunity, this year’s Ryan Symposium will have four parts.
For part one, you will be invited to participate in a small group discussion about Ms. Garza’s work in which you will be encouraged to come up with a question for Ms. Garza. We recommend, in preparation, that you either read her book The Purpose of Power or watch this video for a brief introduction.
Part two will be a conversation with Ms. Garza. She will start with a brief introduction and then respond to the questions that you generate in the first part of the symposium. Kenn will moderate this conversation, joined by other members of our community.
In part three, you will go back to small groups, in which you will work to come to a consensus on what problems you think are priorities to solve if we want to create communities in which we can all flourish.
Finally, in part four, we will regather, and each group will share their consensus priority, so that we, as a community, can leave with a sense of how we can move forward to drive change in our world.
Register here: https://bostonu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIpde6ppzMoHtKgFWMYUV0dZYtD5ammxcal