Programs
Principal Community Efforts for 2010
Pilot communities in Birmingham, Anniston, Collinsville, Prattville, Elba, and Chatom are conducting community forums addressing what decisions its citizens have to make and sustain in their communities about these concerns:
What decisions do citizens have to make and sustain in their communities about these concerns?
- What Is the 21st Century Mission for Our Public Schools?
- Preparing Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s Jobs
- Too Many Children Left Behind: How Can We Close the Achievement Gap?
NETWORK BUILDING
The following items are projects we are working on to expand our network of working relationships and contacts across the state and nation.
- The Mathews Center is working with the Church and Society team of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church to build more effective discussions on contentious issues such as the U.S. role in Iraq. An orientation meeting for others interested in how deliberation can help with such matters will be conducted at American Village later this spring.
- A similar effort at American Village is being developed with business persons regarding Preparing Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s Jobs (workforce development).
- The Center is working with the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center at Auburn University to explore ways in which the arts and humanities can be brought to bear on community concerns.
- For 2010, the Center will work with the Southern Growth Policies Board and the Auburn Economic and Community Development Institute and others to advance community discussions on the annual SGPB issue.
NATIONAL ISSUES FORUMS IN THE CLASSROOM
The Mathews Center is developing with the Birmingham City School System a pilot institute for middle and high school teachers using National Issues Forums in the classroom. This institute is scheduled for May 26-27 at American Village in Montevallo.
ON-LINE SUPPORT MODULES
Testing of on-line support modules developed by Ed Florey is underway. When ready these modules will support Coaching Community Innovation Workshops. The modules are used to teach people about the deliberative process and the uses for it in their communities.