Miami, May 16, 2016— Miami Dade College (MDC) was one of only seven colleges nationwide selected to host a “Citizenship Under Siege” public forum at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 17 at Wolfson Campus.
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and The Democracy Commitment (TDC) were awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to sponsor these public forums, faculty professional development, and on-going efforts to foster meaningful conversation about the most contentious and pressing topics of the day in partnership with the seven community colleges.
AAC&U and TDC, in partnership with MDC and the other community college partners, will facilitate a tapestry of public dialogues exploring who counts as a citizen and who has been accorded full rights to democracy’s promises. The public forums will be grounded in our nation’s history and explore creative ways to use the power of the humanities to bridge differences and build stronger communities.
The MDC forum “Citizenship Under Siege: Democracy for All?” will focus on citizenship through the lens of immigrant women and the contested nature of their belonging. In addition to the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), other participating community organizations include Engage Miami, The Advancement Project, County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, the Community Justice Project, The New Florida Majority, the Dream Defenders, Florida New Americans, SAVE, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Cities for Citizenship, SEIU, the Miami Workers Center, Unite Here, and Haitian Women of Miami.
The MDC forum will include a “Defending Democracy, A History of Social Movements in Florida” presentation, a panel featuring local community leaders, and the following breakout sessions:
- Inclusive Democracy: Making Politics Matter to You
- Voting Rights Restoration for Ex-Felons
- Naturalization and Voting: What’s the Process
- Blockades to Education
- Fighting for the Working Woman
- The Whole Woman: Women’s Health and Wellness
- Criminalization and Driver’s License Access
For more information, contact Josh Young, 305-237-7477, jyoung@mdc.edu
About AAC&U
AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,300 member institutions—including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.
AAC&U functions as a catalyst and facilitator, forging links among presidents, administrators, and faculty members who are engaged in institutional and curricular planning. Its mission is to reinforce the collective commitment to liberal education and inclusive excellence at both the national and local levels, and to help individual institutions keep the quality of student learning at the core of their work as they evolve to meet new economic and social challenges. Information about AAC&U membership, programs, and publications can be found at www.aacu.org.
About The Democracy Commitment
The Democracy Commitment (TDC) is a national initiative providing a platform for the development and expansion of community college programs, projects and curricula aiming at engaging students in civic learning and democratic practice across the country.
The goal of TDC is that every graduate of an American community college shall have had an education in democracy. This includes all of our students, whether they aim to transfer to university, achieve an associate degree or obtain a certificate. For more information about The Democracy Commitment’s mission, activities, and members, visit http://thedemocracycommitment.org.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.
The “Citizenship Under Siege” public forum series has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in these public forums, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.