Contacts:
Wayne Carmello-Harper: 256-231-5160, wcarhar@yourcommunityfirst.org
Mark Wilson: 34-844-4948, mwilson@auburn.edu
Anniston, Alabama – How does our community engage its resources to close the widening academic performance of many low-income and minority children? A public forum on this issue will be conducted at
YOUTH FORUM: 3:30 p.m. Carver Community Center
PUBLIC FORUM: 5:30 p.m. Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce
Refreshments will be provided.
A deliberative forum asks participants to weigh carefully the attractions, weaknesses, costs, and consequences of three differing perspectives widely held on this topic: 1) Raise Expectations and Demand Accountability, 2) Close the Spending Gap and 3) Address the Root Causes. These views will be summarized; however, the objective is for participants to identify acceptable and unacceptable tradeoffs among the differing approaches. Listening to one another, and truly framing the issue, creates common ground for individuals to make a positive impact and hopefully to then decide to take meaningful action. When used this way, the deliberative forum is an effective tool for stimulating open, authentic dialogue on complex issues.
The forum is co-sponsored by the Good Choices Program of the Anniston Parks and Recreation Department, the Community Foundation of Calhoun County, the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University, and the David Mathews Center for Civic Life.
The Draughon Center, outreach office of the College of Liberal Arts, is dedicated to strengthening the bonds between the academic community and the general public through quality programs in schools, towns, and communities around the state.
The Mathews Center is a non-partisan, tax-exempt entity for the purpose of fostering public deliberation and innovative community decision making. The Mathews Center eagerly works with partners who have the same non-partisan objectives.
For additional information, call the Community Foundation at 256.231.5160.
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