News / Articles

Network News  

Dedicated to promoting civil dialogue|Reducing the spread of disinformation|Building trust within our democracy 

                                               March 4, 2023                                 Issue 12 • Winter/Spring 2023 

 

 

Feel free to share this link with others who might like to receive this information directly:sign up here! 

You may access this issue in theNetwork Newsarchive availablehere. 

 

Celebrating 

Women’s History Month 

Click here for more informationandhere.

 

 

Happy Saturday LWV/NICD Network members, 

 

March is a busy month with headlining, multi-day events that offer many opportunities too numerous to reference here. Take some time and start keyboard clicking to get your zooming calendar in order. 

 

We know that healthy democracies depend on citizens who believe in their own institutions and have trust in those who serve in them. While many of us are committed and engaged in this work, recent reports indicate that nearly one-third of Americans feel politically alienated, mainly because they don’t think their voice matters.  

 

With this in mind, if you can only make one event, make it this one. Please join us onThursday, March 9^that 3pm (Eastern) for our LWV/NICD Network event,From Common Sense to Common Purpose.You will hear about the impact the voices of everyday Americans made through NICD’s CommonSense American (CSA) program. The discussion will focus on the lessons learned through the successful passage of the Electoral Count Reform Act in the 117th Congress. Our special guest presenter, NICD Director, Dr. Keith Allred, will share stories of the work that left CSA participants feeling empowered and heard.

 

Pleaseregister here to be part of this webinar exploring CSA’s successful approach, grounded inidentifying solutions that are:  

(1) wise enough to attract grassroots support across our political divides and  

(2) ripe for bipartisan action in Congress. 

  

You’ll also have a chance to ask Keith questions, engage with each other and consider how this program and some of its lessons learned, might be applied to your own efforts to work across political differences on issues affecting our country. 

  

 

March Events (times/time zones indicated/highlighted are those of the hosting organization):
Mar 6-10, 2023	CiViC Learning Week.Making civic learning a nationwide priority for a stronger democracy.Sponsored by iCivics and dozens of co-sponsors.View the schedule of events here– and promptly, as the first related virtual events commence March 5th. A few of the many events are listed individually below, but most are not. Check the schedule upon receipt of this notification.
Mar 6, 2023 Monday 12pm (Eastern)	Lessons from Tocqueville in America.Sponsored by the National Constitution Center | America’s Town Hall series.Alexis de Tocqueville’sDemocracy in Americahas been called by Harvey Mansfield the “best book ever written on democracy and the best book ever written on America.” What can a 200-year-old book teach us about in America today? Join Jeremy Jennings, Olivier Zunz, and Catherine Zuckert for a discussion of Tocqueville’s masterpiece and its lessons for modern Americans. The discussion will be moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, president/CEO of the National Constitution Center. Click here to register.
Mar 6, 2023 Monday 12pm (Eastern)	A Hacker’s Mind:How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules, and How to Bend Them Back.A book talk sponsored by Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation featuring author Bruce Schneier and Winthrop Laflin McCormack, Prof. of Citizenship and Self-Government. The conversation will be moderated by Archon Fund, Dir. of the Ash Center. Click here to register.
Mar 6, 2023 Monday 1pm (Eastern)	League of Women Voters Civic Education in WA State: Youth Organizations, Textbooks, and Schools.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Presenters in this webinar from the WA LWV explain their efforts to engage future voters! Click here to register.
Mar 6, 2023 Monday 3:45pm (Eastern)	Teaching Civics through Advocacy for Bills Before the Massachusetts Legislature.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Presenters in this webinar from the LWV of Needham, MA will share materials and strategies for high school teachers to use to enable students to select an issue, research bills before the legislature, and develop and execute an advocacy plan. Presenters will also share a sample structure for a civics showcase where students can make their pitch to state legislators, town officials, and the general public. Click here to register.
Mar 7, 2023 Tuesday 2pm (Eastern)	Forgotten No More: Civic Seals and Re-affirming the Civic Mission of Schools.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Hear from a panel of state education chiefs who have found ways to address the lack of civics learning in an era of declining resources and time.Hear how they are preparing students for engaged participation in our constitutional democracy. Click here to register.
Mar 7-9, 2023 Tues-Thursday 3-5 pm (Eastern)	Democracy Solutions Summit:Building a 21stCentury Democracy.Sponsored byRepresentWomen.This event brings together experts and leaders in election administration, voting rights, and democracy reform who are working on innovative solutions that strengthen our democracy. The focus of Day One is Fair Access; Day Two is Fair Elections; and, Day Three is Fair Representation. Find more detailed informationhere. Click here to register.
Mar 7, 2023 Tuesday 6pm (Eastern)	The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales.Sponsored by the Harvard Kennedy School of Politics and various Harvard centers. This event showcases a new documentary film release that examines corporate power, modern American capitalism and what a fairer future for everyone would look like. Panelists include Abigail Disney and Kathleen Hughes, directors/producers of the documentaryThe American Dream and Other Fairy Tales;Rebecca Henderson, Harvard professor shown in the film; and Artemis Bell, former Disney cast member, also shown in the film. The discussion will be moderated by Sharon Block, Harvard law professor. This is an in-person event that will also stream live on the IOP YouTube link. The in-person event will be followed by a screening of the documentary. Access the forum discussion streaminghere.
Mar 8, 2023 Wednesday 3pm (Eastern)	Gaming for Democracy.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Hear from a panel of game developers creating civic learning. They will discuss what the games have in common and how gaming can deepen understanding of democracy both in school and out. Click here to register.
Mar 9, 2023 Thursday 3pm (Eastern)	From Common Sense to Common Ground.Sponsored by the LWV/NICD Network. For democracies to succeed, citizens must believe in their own institutions and trust those who serve in them. Yet, a recentreport released by Public Agendaindicates that nearly one-third of Americans feel politically alienated, not because their party isn’t in power, but because they don’t think their voice matters. As a result, they think our democracy is in crisis.   That’s what makes the success ofCommonSense American, an initiative of the National Inst. for Civil Discourse, so rewarding. The Election Reform Act that recently passed was impacted significantly by the voices of Americans across the country like you and your neighbors. We invite you to hear the story as we welcome our special guest presenter, NICD Director, Keith Allred, who will share this empowering work with us. Click here to register.
Mar 9, 2023 Thursday 7pm (Eastern)	Civic Education as a Matter of National Security.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Overcoming domestic divisiveness that threatens national security requires a citizenry that independently processes information, engages effectively with different viewpoints, and commits to the betterment of the whole. Panelists will share their perspectives on the importance of civics education and how civic skills are fostered through service and leadership. Click here to register.
Mar 10, 2023 Friday 1pm (Eastern)	Conversation with Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States.This presentation is part ofCivic Learning Week, sponsored byiCivics. Civic Learning Week was created to highlight the importance of civic education in sustaining and strengthening constitutional democracy in order to prioritize it across the nation. As part of this annual celebration of civic education, Justice Sotomayor will meet with teachers and students in a pre-recorded Q&A.She will participate in two brief discussions: one with elementary students and one with middle/high school students. Click here to register.
Mar 15, 2023 Wednesday 12pm (Pacific)	Behind Closed Doors:How Communities Move Forward Toward Dismantling the Relationship Between Political Manipulation and Racism.Sponsored by the Center for Inclusive Democracy at USC’s Price School of Public Policy, in conjunction with the CA Black Freedom Fund, the Latino Community Foundation and the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. This is the final event in the four-part webinar series exploring the entrenchment of racism in US politics and its impact on political power and community representation. Click here to register.
Mar 16, 2023 Thursday 12pm (Pacific)	Words Matter:Democracy’s Rhetorical Failure(s)Sponsored by the LWV of San Jose/Santa Clara, CA. Featuring San Jose State Univ. associate professor and author,Dr. Ryan Skinnell, who will talk about the dangers of demagoguery and anti-democratic movements that pose threats in the current moment, and what we can do to strengthen our democracy. Click here to register.
Mar 16, 2023 Thursday 7pm (Pacific)	Finding Fairness in a Polarized Country:Practicing Civil Discourse.Sponsored by the LWV of Cupertino/Sunnyvale, CA.Hone your civil discourse skills and add your ideas in this ‘Participative Workshop Conversation’ using the elements of equity & equality and whether they provide fair solutions to community issues. Facilitated group discussion topics include: affordable housing – nimby vs. yimby – what’s fair?|no cash bail? Is it fair to have bail requirements?|mental health treatment for unhoused – mandatory or not?|universal basic income – what’s fair? Click here to register.
Mar 16, 2023 Thursday *5:30pm (Eastern) *Please note the time change for this event	Amendment Reform in America and Abroad.Sponsored by the National Constitution Center and the Center for Constitutional Design at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. Distinguished constitutional scholars, Wilfred Codrington and Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton, will discuss how democracies amend their constitutions, both in America and around the world. The discussion will be moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, president/CEO of the National Constitution Center. Click here to register.
Mar 22, 2023 Wednesday 12pm (Eastern)	State of America.Sponsored by the 92ndStreet Y, New York. This virtual summit explores the most important questions facing the country right now – spotlighting the future of democracy, civic engagement, technology, journalism, politics and policy. Clickherefor the schedule, panels, and speakers. Click here to register.
Mar 24, 2023 Friday 1pm (Eastern)	The Constitutional Role of the State Solicitor General.Sponsored by the National Constitution Center and theNational Association of Attorneys General. The discussion will focus on the history of the office of solicitor general, the role of state solicitors in litigating cases before the Supreme Court, and some of the landmark cases they have litigated. Panelists include Dan Schweitzer, director and chief counsel of the National Association of Attorneys General Center for Supreme Court Advocacy; Lindsay See, solicitor general of West Virginia; and, Barbara Underwood, solicitor general of New York. Jeffrey Rosen, president/CEO of NCC will moderate the discussion. Click here to register.
Mar 27, 2023 Monday 7pm (Pacific)	Strategies for Bipartisan Immigration Action.Sponsored by the LWVUS Immigration Interest Group.Theresa Cardinal Brown, senior advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC, is the featured presenter for this webinar. Ms. Brown has broad expertise in immigration policies and has worked at the US Chamber of Commerce, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the US Customs and Border Protection, and the Dept. of Homeland Security. Access the webinarhere.
Mar 29, 2023 Wednesday 7pm (Eastern)	Broken News:Why the Media Rage Machine Divides America & How to Fight Back.Sponsored by The Village Square, in partnership with Florida Humanities, part of their UNUM: Democracy Reignited Series. Featured presenter, Chris Stirewalt, former Fox News political editor and now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), will share an inside view of the rage-driven political environment that now exists in some news companies. Click here to register.
Mar 30, 2023 Thursday 12pm (Eastern)	Civic Virtue and Citizenship.Sponsored by the National Constitution Center. The discussion will focus on the concepts of civic virtue and citizenship in democratic societies. Panelists include Christopher Beem, author ofThe Seven Democratic Virtues: What You Can Do to Overcome Tribalism and Save Our Democracy; Richard Haass, author ofThe Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens; and, Lorraine Pangle, author ofReason and Character: The Moral Foundations of Aristotelian Political Philosophy. Jeffrey Rosen, president/CEO of NCC will moderate the discussion. Click here to register.
	Sharing is Caring!   Check out theLeague of Women Voters of Orange Coast, California to view their vigilant efforts to combat disinformation. Fight Truth Decay.   Thanks to Anne Stone and the entire Orange Coast team!