For Immediate Release
April 30, 2013
THE VILLAGE SQUARE CONTINUES ‘OUR TOWN’ SERIES
‘Fast Forward’ Forum Focuses on New Projects, Business and Ideas
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 30, 2013 – Hometowns with a “sense of place” are vibrant, engaged, growing and economically successful. They are places people want to live and raise families.
There are new reasons every day why this describes Tallahassee.
On Monday, May 6, The Village Square hosts “OUR TOWN: Fast Forward,” a spirited look at what’s new and what’s coming in Tallahassee. The program will be moderated by WFSU’s Tom Flanigan.
[Read the entire release]
For Immediate Release April 17, 2013
VILLAGE SQUARE HOSTS FORUM ON IMMIGRATION REFORM
“Immigration and the American Melting Pot” examines national, state and human issues
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 17, 2013 – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio now occupies the pivotal position in whether sweeping immigration reforms soon become law. Next Tuesday evening, Rubio’s General Counsel since taking office, Len Collins, will join a headliner panel at The Village Square’s Dinner at the Square program, “Immigration and the American Melting Pot,” to discuss proposed reforms and the human and policy dimensions of the immigration crisis. Collins left the position on Friday to return to Tallahassee to practice law at the statewide law firm Broad and Cassel.
[Read the entire release]
THE VILLAGE SQUARE AND LEADERSHIP TALLAHASSEE HOST ‘SPEED DATE’ TOWN HALL: Citizens invited to interact with local leadership using ‘speed date’ format
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 9, 2013 – Maybe you’ve never tried it yourself, but everyone’s heard of speed dating. First offered by an Israeli rabbi to help Jewish singles find love, now there’s Christian speed dating, graduate student speed dating, even speed dating for pet adoption and – for the truly noncommittal – online speed dating.
But nothing beats civic speed dating.
At a time when interactions between citizens and their government are either increasingly hostile or practically non-existent, it’s probably past time for a little matchmaking.
[Read the entire release]
For Immediate Release
March 28, 2013
THE VILLAGE SQUARE CONTINUES ‘OUR TOWN’ FORUM SERIES
Leadership Tallahassee and Tallahassee Democrat partner in local leadership forum
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – March 28, 2013 – If you want to participate in civic life in Tallahassee but aren’t interested in preparing a three-minute speech for a commission meeting, what options do you have? Next Thursday night, April 4, citizens will have a rare opportunity to talk informally with both Tallahassee City Commissioners and Leon County Commissioners.
“OUR TOWN: Local Leadership Forum” is a continuation of an ongoing series of unique local issues forums sponsored by The Village Square, a nonprofit formed by local leaders – from both sides of the political divide – to improve the civility and factual accuracy of civic dialogue. The series is part of a grant funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Fund at the Community Foundation of North Florida to foster an informed, engaged community.
[Read the entire release]
For Immediate Release
January 8, 2013
VILLAGE SQUARE HOSTS FORUM ON RECENT CONTROVERSIES IN WOMEN’S ISSUES
Conservative author Suzanne Venker joins diverse panel of women leaders
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – January 8, 2013 – During the 2012 presidential election cycle, candidates fell all over themselves to earn the women’s vote. There was talk about “The War on Women” and “binders of women,” as we jumped back headlong into a national debate about abortion rights, equal pay for women and even birth control. Nearly 100 years since women gained the right to vote and 50 since the feminist movement of the 1960s, it seems that Americans are still deeply divided on this issue.
Conservative author Suzanne Venker answered all the campaign talk about the “War on Women” with an op-ed for Fox News titled “The War on Men.” She immediately found herself swept up in a firestorm like nothing she’d experienced. She became the subject of satire on The Colbert Report and made a visit to the women of The View to explain herself.
[Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2012
THE VILLAGE SQUARE OFFERS FLORIDA VOTERS UNIQUE WAY TO LEARN ABOUT 11 PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Online tool aggregates research and arguments from across the state in fully editable website
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – October 10, 2012 — With 11 proposed constitutional amendments to the Florida Constitution, making your way through the ballot this November will have its challenges.
[Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2012
THE VILLAGE SQUARE HOSTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS 101
Collins Center for Public Policy, Florida TaxWatch and League of Women Voters of Tallahassee co-host two evening programs on proposed Florida amendments
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – October 10, 2012 — On two consecutive Tuesday nights beginning October 16, The Village Square leads a diverse group of community organizations offering a painless way to learn about the 11 constitutional amendments on November’s ballot.
[Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2012
NATIONAL EXPERT ON PARTISAN DIVIDE VISITS FSU, VILLAGE SQUARE
Professor, author Jonathan Haidt offers insight into ailing civic discourse
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – September 4, 2012 – In the home stretch of this presidential election year in an America polarized to the point of dysfunction, more of us are asking “what in the world is wrong with us?” NYU’s Stern School of Business professor and social psychologist Dr. Jonathan Haidt has answers and they’re not what you’re expecting. Strangely enough, “elephants” are involved…
Haidt will be speaking at two events in Tallahassee on Tuesday, September 11. [Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2012
THE VILLAGE SQUARE EXPANDS TO SECOND FLORIDA CITY
St. Petersburg College launches bipartisan non-profit founded by Tallahassee leaders
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – May 21, 2012 – Tomorrow night, The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions at St. Petersburg College becomes the first spinoff of Tallahassee-based nonprofit The Village Square as it hosts former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham.
The Village Square, founded by a group of Tallahassee leaders who enjoyed friendships despite their divergent political views, is dedicated to growing constructive, civil dialogue on matters of local, state and national importance. In its 6 years, the organization has hosted thousands of residents at over 50 programs on topics that range from Florida constitutional amendments to energy to the challenging intersection of faith and politics. The Village Square was the recipient of the highly nationally competitive Knight Community Information Challenge grant in 2009 awarded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to grow informed and engaged communities. [Read the entire release]
For Immediate Release
May 1, 2012
THE VILLAGE SQUARE CONTINUES ‘OUR TOWN’ SERIES
‘Fast Forward’ Forum Focuses on New Development, Projects and Ideas
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – May 1, 2012 – Hometowns with a “sense of place” are vibrant, engaged, growing and economically successful. They are places people want to live and raise families. There are new reasons every day why this describes Tallahassee.
On Monday, May 7, The Village Square hosts “OUR TOWN: Fast Forward,” a spirited look at what’s new and what’s coming in Tallahassee.
Co-sponsored by Knight Creative Communities Institute (KCCI), Leadership Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Democrat and Access Tallahassee, “Fast Forward” will be fast-paced. Five presentations follow a PechaKucha format (Japanese for “chit chat”) with a maximum of 20 slides that advance automatically after 20 seconds. [Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2012
STATE EXPERTS ADDRESS FLORIDA’S ECONOMIC CRISIS AND RECOVERY
Former Florida CFO Alex Sink and Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Mark Wilson to Headline Panel
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – April 23, 2012 – There are few places the economic crisis hit home harder than in the Sunshine State. On Tuesday, April 24, two leaders in Florida’s business and economic landscape will join The Village Square for an important conversation about how our state has responded and what still needs to be done.
Former Florida CFO Alex Sink and Florida Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Mark Wilson will share their perspectives on how the crisis is playing out in Florida, what innovations are still needed to ensure Florida’s economic future, and what roles government and private business play in tackling the challenges ahead. [Read the entire release]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2012
THE VILLAGE SQUARE LAUNCHES ‘OUR TOWN’ FORUM SERIES
Leadership Tallahassee and Tallahassee Democrat partner in local leadership forum
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – February 13, 2012 – If you want to participate in civic life in Tallahassee but aren’t interested in preparing a three-minute speech for a commission meeting, what options do you have? This Thursday night, February 16, citizens will have a rare opportunity to talk over pizza with both Tallahassee City Commissioners and Leon County Commissioners. [Read the entire release]
For Immediate Release
February 2, 2012
TWO EVENTS FOCUS ON CHANGES, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
CNBC’s John Harwood to speak at Florida State University and The Village Square;joined by leaders in Florida’s media landscape
(TALLAHASSEE, FL) – February 2, 2012 – In just a few short years, everything has changed about how we get our information, and John Harwood, CNBC Chief Washington Correspondent, is coming to Tallahassee to talk about it. Harwood will share his views on the changes, challenges and future of journalism as the featured speaker at two February 7 events in Tallahassee. [Read the entire release]
