Democracy Forum 9/16/16

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine    
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: The Civic Mission of Public Education

(NOTE: This was an abbreviated version of Democracy Forum. Due to technical difficulties the show was 30 minutes rather than the usual 60.)

Key Discussion Points:
a) We discuss whether inequities in public education and the failure of public schools to prepare all children for citizenship contribute to political inequality.
b) Has there been a decline in civic education? Or an evolution in what constitutes civics instruction?
c) What do kids typically learn about how government and democracy work in Maine and in the United States?
d) What do citizens need to learn to be effective in civic life?
e) In what ways do disparities in the quality of education among school systems widen empowerment gaps between rich and poor children?

Guests:
Meira Levinson, Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education https://www.gse.harvard.edu/faculty/meira-levinson
Bill Richards, Maine educator and former Associate Commissioner of Instruction for Maine.   

The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes:
John Bradford
Linda Hoskins
Ann Luther
Pam Person
Leah Taylor
Linda Washburn

FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org

Maine Currents 9/14/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: Joel Mann

Today on “Maine Currents” we focus on ways local people are plugging into larger movements to create positive change. Guests Tracey Hair and Larry Dansinger report back from their trip to the World Social Forum in Canada this summer, we talk about the “End Violence Together” rally and march and events marking the anniversary of the Occupy movement in Bangor this coming weekend, as well as last weekend’s Wabanaki Solidarity with Standing Rock rally, and we invite listeners to call in with question and with their own stories of working to create positive change.

Guests:
Tracey Hair started working at HOME Inc in 12 years ago. For a brief time she worked in partnership with HOME at a homeless charity located in Harlem. She lived and worked in Harlem doing street outreach, handing out sandwiches and serving food from a pop up food pantry. In addition to street outreach, Tracey taught basic computer skills to undocumented and low-income women in the Bronx. She have since returned to HOME Inc here in Orland where she currently serves as Acting Director. In addition to working with homeless people, Tracey has spent time advocating for Immigration Rights for same sex couples and is also a member of the Board of St Francis Community / Mandala Farm where she lived and worked for two years. Mandala Farm is a homeless shelter where homeless people live and work together in community. FMI: http://www.homemmausa.org/

Larry Dansinger used to work with Resources for Organizing and Social Change and still volunteers with the group. Besides attending the most recent World Social Forum this summer in Montreal, Larry helped to organize a Social Forum here in Maine in 2006 and hopes there will be another in Maine soon. Larry was also active in the Occupy Bangor’s camp next to the Bangor Public Library in 2011 and is helping to plan a 5th anniversary event there on Saturday 9/17/16, 10-11:30 am (followed by a potluck) at the park next to the Bangor Public Library.
FMI: https://www.facebook.com/OccupyBangor/?fref=ts

Mary Ellen Quinn is the Co-coordinator of Pax Christi Maine and one of the organizers of the “End Violence Together” rally and march that will be taking place in Bangor on Saturday, 9/17/16 from 1-4pm at West Market Square (rain location: Columbia Street Church). FMI: https://www.facebook.com/events/1031435066943636/