CMC LECTURE
Civic engagement revisited
Surprising insights from civic action in the U.S. and the Barack Obama campaign
Date: October 16, 2008
Time: lecture 10.00 – 12.00h. (coffee/tea available from 9.30h.)
optional workshop 12.00 – 16.00h. (including lunch)
Location: Mammoni, Mariaplaats 14 in Utrecht
Speaker: Harry C. Boyte (policy advisor of Barack Obama and founder of the Centre for Democracy and Citizenship of the University of Minnesota)
The first lecture of the Context MasterClass 2008-2009 offers you a unique opportunity to get inspired by examples of civic engagement in the U.S.. On October 16, Harry C. Boyte will speak on civic action in the U.S. in relation to global issues. He will focus on the specifics of civic action as the active manifestation of public support.
Harry Boyte is a distinguished scholar, community organizer and activist. In the 1960s he was secretary to the Martin Luther King organization. He currently is one of the Policy Advisors for the campaign of presidential candidate Barack Obama.
In this lecture Boyte will compare different traditions of engaging with people. He will explain why organizing should be preferred over mobilizing. Boyte strongly believes in citizens as actors of change, with regard to their personal situation and society as a whole. From this basic perspective, he will challenge professionals (development workers) to support people who want to contribute to a better world, in a way that fits with their own talents, experience and skills.
Boyte is actively involved in the campaign of Barack Obama and will draw examples of this unique and successful campaign. Take part in this lecture and discover what you can learn from this campaign and the civic engagement philosophy.
Following the lecture an optional workshop (werkatelier) will be held. Here you can set to work to apply the insights of the lecture within a small group. Visit www.contextmasterclass.nl for additional information on this meeting, suggestions for further reading and instructions for registration. Early registration is recommended, since the number of available seats is limited.
