Village Square in the news
John Avlon mentions Village Square | The Daily Beast
Professional partisans present a vision of American politics where everything is divided between the far left and the far right. Lately, they seem to be dominating the nation’s political debate. But there’s a powerful backlash brewing—a movement of voices from the vital center who are declaring….Continue Reading
…their independence from play-to-the-base politics. In fact, the center does not only have the numbers, it has the intellectual coherence and strong advocates. There are academics like the Hoover Institution’s Morris Fiorina, author of Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America and McGill’s Gil Troy, author of Leading From the Center. There are centrist think tanks, like Will Marshall’s Progressive Policy Institute and The Third Way associated with the Democratic side of the aisle and the Main Street Partnership for the GOP. There are centrist radio-show hosts like Michael Smerconish, Ronn Owens, and Alan Nathan. There are centrist Web sites like TheModerateVoice.com, Donklephant.com and BookerRising.net—as well as aggregators like Fark.com that skewer absurdities on both sides. Most important are the grassroots groups that are growing up on their own, like the Village Square movement based out of Florida, the Transpartisan Alliance, or the newly formed Pragmatic Center, which announced its presence in the wake of Kathleen Parker’s column.
The purpose of this list is to show that there is a coherent and strong centrist movement growing in America right now. It is principled and civil. It is independent of the two parties’ influential, entrenched special interests. And it is on the rise. Read the whole article…
Originally published March 31, 2010 in The Daily Beast www.thedailybeast.com
Peaceful village | Tallahassee Democrat
Remember the fracas surrounding the town hall meetings on health care? The founders of The Village Square do. Their efforts to bring together diametrically opposed ideological groups has earned a $72,000 slice of $24 million offered through the Knight Foundation’s Community………Continue Reading
Information Challenge. The money will be used to support programs that help concerned individuals follow Albert Einstein’s charge: “To the village square we must carry the facts … from there must come America’s voice.”
The Village Square is the type of resource citizens of this country, and more distinctly, area residents will need as we consider opposing points of view with a mind toward strengthening our republic.
Through conversations over group dinners, political discussions over a pint of beer, and soon, online tools that will allow community members to post, read and edit information on locally focused topics, Executive Director Liz Joyner and members of the board are striving to “bring communities back together again as neighbors taking care of what neighbors used to handle.”
Round-table and panel discussions sponsored by The Village Square, through the use of the Knight grant, could serve as the antithesis of the well-intentioned — but easily maligned — local “town hall” meetings.
A good example was the one held on health care reforms Aug. 25 at City Hall. Though it was attended by U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, it quickly fell victim to an ideological shouting match because it was sponsored by some community agencies that stood to benefit from federal stimulus dollars. An opportunity to meet with our congressman was drowned out by rhetoric from both sides, and an opportunity to truly hear and understand opposing views was crushed.
By contrast, Village Square forums would primarily focus on the local issues, including topics such as the great biomass debate, coal plants and constitutional amendments. The group’s outreach efforts encourage individuals to read, think and opine for themselves rather than allowing their talking points to come from nationally focused partisan agendas.
The first test of bringing the community together in such a down-home fashion is to raise matching funds for the Knight grant. The group is halfway to its goal, but it’s important that donations (and participation) come from throughout the community.
“Knight wants to see that the community supports the idea,” Ms. Joyner said.
Input is sought on how The Village Square can best use its grant money to unify the community in the exchange of ideas.
“There is a way for anyone who’s interested to get involved, whatever their abilities are,” she said.
Whether residents of this area support The Village Square with their dollars, their attendance, contribution to an online Wiki of information pertinent to local topics or in some other form, Ms. Joyner and members of the board march forward with a charge by writer Patricia Nelson Limerick: “Let friendship redeem the republic.”
We hope that it can, and will.
Originally published January 28, 2010 in The Tallahassee Democrat www.tallahassee.com
Bipartisanship on the Hustings | Kathleen Parker
Americans say they’re sick of partisan politics, and some of them really mean it. In Norman, Okla., and Tallahassee, Fla. – two university towns where football usually matters more than governance – local leaders weary of blood sport have begun taking matters into their own hands…….Continue Reading
…Next week in Norman as the media hordes forget they ever heard of Iowa and descend on New Hampshire for the nation’s first primary, a dozen or so renegades from the major parties are convening a forum to develop Plan C. A third way. A bipartisan solution to business as usual. Their immodest goal: To end divisive partisan polarization, create bipartisanship and bring the country together after the 2008 election.
Leading the charge are David Boren, Oklahoma University president and a former U.S. senator, along with former Democratic Sens. Sam Nunn of Georgia, Charles Robb of Virginia and Gary Hart of Colorado, also a former presidential candidate.
Republican sponsors include former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, former Sens. Bill Brock of Tennessee and John Danforth of Missouri, and Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.
And yes, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will be there, but he’s not running for president.
Other formers expected to participate include Bill Cohen, former secretary of defense, and former U.S. Sens. Alan Dixon of Illinois and Bob Graham of Florida. Also, Jim Leach, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa, and Edward Perkins, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Yes, this is primarily a forum of formers. In fact, only Hagel and Bloomberg are politically current, from which one may draw one’s own conclusions. Then again, former politicians may be the best kind. With hindsight comes wisdom and, having been there, done that, people formerly known as politicians have little to gain from speaking out except the rare reward of doing something for the greater good.
While these reform-minded formers are tackling national problems, their bipartisan counterparts in Tallahassee are acting locally through a relatively new Web-based creation called “To The Village Square.” The square is the brainchild of attorney and City Commissioner Allan Katz, a Barack Obama Democrat who used leftover money from his recent re-election campaign to create the project.
He tapped as his partner Liz Joyner, a social worker and stay-at-home mom, (who also ran his last campaign), and recruited a bipartisan board whose members agree with two simple premises: facts matter; solutions should be bipartisan.
“If you say you’re nonpartisan, nobody believes you,” says Katz.
With that reality in mind, The Village Square aims to remind citizens of “The Big Idea” for which our ancestors spilled their blood – that Americans should be self-governing. The Web site, tothevillagesquare.org, explains that history in the context of today’s political dialogue, which “wouldn’t be tolerated between 5-year-olds at recess.”
“We’ve turned ‘talking’ over to professional polarizers on television who make seven-digit careers surfing this wave of hostility,” reads the Web site. “They warp what were once perfectly useful ideas, when understood in moderation, into black-and-white caricatures of ideas, so oversimplified they become effectively useless in solving real problems.
“These entrepreneurial yellers build for us such a fundamental misunderstanding of (and contempt for) people who think differently than we do, we’ve stopped bothering to listen to each other. … We’re spoon-fed slick (and expensive) commercials that sell us snake oil rather than provide the facts so basic to building the informed citizenry envisioned by our Founding Fathers.”
To that end, Katz and friends sponsor topical dinners ($25/person) to air local issues. Next week, while Boren and Co. are figuring out how to advance civil discourse at the national level, participants in Tallahassee’s Village Square will be dining with experts to discuss: “Energy Alternatives À la carte: Fossils and Sunshine and Garbage, oh my!”
OK, so you’re rewinding your videos that night, but somebody has to take this stuff seriously.
It’s not quite a movement, but both Boren’s initiative and the Katz/Joyner project suggest the stirrings of a necessary political backlash. Just as an unhappily married couple nevertheless manages to produce a lovely and beloved child, the ugly divorce of politics from the people may yet birth a very American revolution.
If Washington won’t lead the way, then Americans will simply lead themselves.
Born-again Americans. Now there’s a concept. Syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group
Tallahassee Democrat: Community leaders look back at civil rights protests
Photos documenting civil rights protests flashed across a screen Sunday night high above the Young Actors Theatre stage. Below sat community leaders, ready to share their memories of the tumultuous time and their opinions on race relations today and in the future. The program, which was followed by a YAT performance of the musical “Hairspray,” was hosted by The Village Square, a group promoting civil discourse. Sunday’s topic was “Civil Rights, Civil Means: Tallahassee’s Protests at 50: Why they still matter.” Hosted by Bill Mattox, member of the Village Square board of directors, guest [Read the article]
Village Square moderator Bill Mattox, on why the 60′s civil rights protests matter today
The story behind Tallahassee’s civil rights protests is old hat, I’m sure, to many lifelong Tallahasseeans. But this painful part of our city’s history was unexplored territory for me, a newcomer to Florida. And what really moved me that day from Donovan’s presentation were the photographs of Florida A&M student protesters carrying placards with handwritten messages. The messages on these placards were a study in compelling contrasts. They were bold, yet humble. Conscience-pricking, yet gentle. In-your-face, yet non-threatening. When you “have a face for radio” and make your living as a writer as I do, it [Read the article]
Civil Rights veterans to tackle issues in forum
Henry Steele, son of the late Rev. C.K Steele, was sent to jail for eight days at the age of 16 for his participation in Tallahassee’s civil rights protests during the 1960s. The experience, which he said he is proud to have been a part of, is one he will get to relive Sunday in a forum discussion on civil liberties. In honor of the anniversary of the Tallahassee’s protests, the Village Square is revisiting civil rights issues with the upcoming panel discussion “Civil Rights, Civil Means: Tallahassee’s Protests at 50: Why they still matter.” The panel for the discussion includes Steele, fellow protestor Laura Dixie and state Rep. [Read the article]
Village Square Forum focuses on civil-rights protesters
Deep cultural division. Turbulent social change. Religiously minded protesters. Recipe for disaster? To the 21st-century American mind, it would probably seem so. But the story of Tallahassee’s civil-rights protests 50 years ago turned out much differently. And part of the reason it did is because a group of FAMU students (and their elders) understood how to work for social change in a civil and constructive way. On Sunday, July 10, the Village Square will hold a special forum, “Civil Rights, Civil Means,” to consider the contributions that these demonstrators made to Tallahassee’s civil life a half-century ago. [Read the article]
Bill Mattox: Florida needs a redistricting fair
I know this will sound crazy (at first), but Florida legislative leaders ought to enlist K.C. Smith of the Florida History Fair to help them with redistricting — and they ought to see if Cindy O’Connell of the Florida Lottery will assist, too. Confused? Let me see if I can explain. Early next year, the Florida Legislature must adopt redistricting plans for State House, State Senate, and U.S. Congressional elections. These plans must comply with six redistricting guidelines Florida voters adopted last year: (1) don’t favor incumbents; (2) don’t favor any political party; (3) don’t deny equal opportunity to minorities; (4) don’t vary population [Read the article]
Make change through service, author urges
Laura Osteen looked out into the audience and asked one question. “How many folks in the room worry that we are, as a nation, adrift?” Wordlessly, all of those seated before her raised their hands. A group of more than a hundred volunteers, Village Square and community members gathered Tuesday evening to hear Stephen Kiernan, the author of “Authentic Patriotism,” present his idea of what it means to be truly American. He was invited to speak as part of the Village Square’s “Divided States of America” series. Village Square is a nonprofit, non-partisan forum on matters of local, state and national importance. [Read the article]
Tallahassee Democrat: Chris Roberts an Authentic Patriot
Chris Roberts still blushes when he reveals the reason he got involved in his first service project. It was because of a girl. As a high school freshman in Merritt Island, he knew she was going to be there, so he volunteered to help out at a school for at-risk students. And then he was hooked — not on the girl, but on doing service. Since then, the 23-year-old FSU engineering student has founded the BIG Event, a day when students pan out over the community to do hands-on projects, and has worked tirelessly for FSU Habitat for Humanity, helping to raise more than $200,000 and spending most Saturdays building” [Read the article]
Tallahassee Democrat: Authentic Patriotism on June 21
The left says government can solve our social problems. The right claims the free market is a better avenue. But true patriots don’t rely on either — they identify a problem and solve it themselves. So says Stephen Kiernan, author of “Authentic Patriotism: Restoring America’s Founding Ideals Through Selfless Action.” Kiernan will speak in Tallahassee on June 21 at a dinner sponsored by The Village Square. In his book, Kiernan tells dozens of stories about people who have tackled everything from the health insurance crisis and overcrowded prisons to sustainable green projects in the Bronx. [Read the article]
Tallahassee Democrat launches Community Hands
“We kick off Community Hands with the goal of linking needs to people who can provide resources and hands-on work…In many ways, Community Hands is the brainchild of Sharon Kant-Rauch, Tallahassee Democrat Faith editor…Sharon will write follow-up stories to show the outcome of community effort. We’re kicking off the series at the same time The Village Square, a local organization dedicated to fostering civil discussion about social issues, is leading a community dialogue on service…” If you’ve been reading the Tallahassee Democrat for a few years, you probably remember a series called [Read the article]
Kelly Otte: Notes on nonprofits
“…have you heard about The Village Square? I think it is one of the most original and thought-provoking nonprofits in Tallahassee. If you have not heard of them, visit the website www.tothevillagesquare.com. On June 21 the Village Square is bringing author Stephen Kiernan to town. He wrote “Authentic Patriotism,” his call to all Americans to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work needed for America to be strong. He calls the people who do this “Authentic Patriots” — those who “see a problem and declare that it cannot be allowed to persist in a country as great as ours.” Authentic patriots make contributions both great [Read the article]
Insiders panel plans to evaluate session tonight
The Village Square has assembled a diverse group of legislative experts who will discuss and evaluate in an open forum how the 2011 legislative session affects Floridians. The free program, part of The Village Square’s “Take-out Tuesday,” is set for today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church downtown. The panel discussion will be moderated by The Miami Herald’s Tallahassee Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas. Liz Joyner, the Village Square’s executive director, said the event is meant to be “user friendly” and the goal was to produce a panel with “diverse topic views.” [Read the article]
Katz discusses diplomatic life in Portugal
Allan Katz was welcomed back to Tallahassee with open arms and lots of “your Excellency” jokes Monday night as he spoke about his work as United States Ambassador to Portugal, a job he took on in early 2010. The hour-and-a-half presentation was a fundraiser for The Village Square, an organization focused on building constructive dialogue and founded by Katz and Bill Law. “One of the things that makes the job so good is there are very few typical days,” said Katz, responding to a question by Mark Schlakman, senior program director for the Florida State University Center for the Advancement [Read the article]
Dinner at the Square: The Psychology of Polarization & Demonization
Did you know that highly partisan people don’t see shades of gray? Literally, they don’t see the color gray as well as someone who is less opinionated. Turns out that human psychology offers solid clues about why our civic dialogue has degenerated lately to something like kindergartners on a playground. The Village Square continues its series “The Divided States of America” with “The Psychology of Polarization & Demonization,” addressing how our brains and our behavior contribute to today’s divisive political climate. The featured guest is Matt Motyl, co-director of CivilPolitics.org, an academic initiative [Read the article]
