Civics Series: Can Democracy Survive? A 5-Week Series Presented by Prof. Michael Krasner/Taft Institute for Government
Queens Library, Forest Hills – A 5-Week Series:
Wednesdays, Oct 23 & 30, Nov 6 & 13; Thurs, Nov 21, 2019 6:00 to 7:30pm
Join us as Michael Krasner, Professor of Political Science at Queens College, returns by popular demand to present Can Democracy Survive? – a 5-week civics series that focuses on the threats to our current democracy and what we can do to defend it. He will cover the benefits and vulnerabilities of democracies in the modern world, highlight those that are under attack today, discuss issues and causes that are weakening our democracy and possible responses to these worrisome trends. Don’t miss this free, informative journey to empowerment through better understanding of our times.
WEEKLY TOPICS
Oct 23 - What is Democracy – Forms of democracy in the Modern World Oct 30 - The Threat to Democracy – How is democracy threatened in the United States and other countries? Nov 6 - Causes of the Threats to Democracy – What is producing the threats to Democracy? Nov 13 - Defending Democracy – How can democracy be protected and strengthened? Nov 21 - Advocacy Groups Fair – Options for action
ABOUT MICHAEL KRASNER, PROFESSOR AT QUEENS COLLEGE
An expert in American government and politics, Michael Krasner is co-director of Queen's College’s Taft Institute for Government, which promotes better understanding of the political process. Since 1970 he has taught courses on politics and the media; presidential, gubernatorial and mayoral elections; American foreign policy; public policy; and arms control and disarmament.
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: Protecting Our Democracy
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thurs, September 12, 2019, 6-7:30pm
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Join us as CUNY Professor Benjamin Carter Hett gives us a look back at the mistakes made in Europe in the 1930s that led to the rise of dictatorships, fascism, and the Nazi movement under Adolph Hitler in Germany. By understanding why that democracy collapsed so quickly and completely, we can find resonance today as democracy is again under attack here and around the world. This forum introduces the Let’s Talk Democracy fall civics series, Can Democracy Survive?, taught by Queens College Professor Michael Krasner.
ABOUT BENJAMIN CARTER HETT
Benjamin Carter Hett is an award-winning author and professor of history at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY. He is a gifted storyteller and leading scholar of twentieth-century Germany and his latest book, The Death of Democracy offers portraits of misguided and egotistical politicians in partisan rivalry to show how fragile democracy can be when those in power do not respect it.
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: Understanding the Real Situation at Our Southern Border
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, June 20, 2019, 6-7:30pm
With so much contradictory information about immigration issues, it’s hard to know what’s really going on. Please join us as Nara Milanich, History Professor at Barnard College/Columbia University, breaks it down and separates truth from hype. Bringing first-hand knowledge from a recent visit to a border detention center with her undergraduate students, she will address the following topics and answer your questions:
The current immigration situation at the U.S./Mexican border.
The reasons people are so desperate to leave their countries.
The role the U.S. has played in these countries and what the U.S. can do to stabilize the situation in their home countries.
Our obligations to these asylum seekers, according to U.S. and international law.
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: New Climate Change Solutions - How We Can All Help
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, May 23, 2019, 6-7:30pm
However polarizing, the issue of climate change is a real concern that has an impact on everyone around the world. The good news is that there are things we can do in our daily lives that will help make a difference.
Join us to learn more from our panel of speakers -- Monica Weiss of 350NYC and the Climate Reality Project (directed by Al Gore); Kim Fraczek, a Sane Energy leader in NYC; Dan Miner of the Forest Hills Green Team; and a representative of the Sierra Club in Queens – as they help us understand:
What clean energy is, how it is produced, and the implications of local implementation.
Why clean energy is the foundation of a strategy for slowing down and eventually halting the trend toward global warming.
How legislation at the city, state and federal level can impact this promising trend.
How you can get involved through changes in your energy consumption, volunteerism and voting.
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: Understanding How NYC Charter Controls City Spending
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, April 11, 2019, 6-7:30pm
If you’re confused about the power struggle between New York State and New York City budgeting, then you won’t want to miss this forum! Join us to find out to what extent The New York City Charter Revision controls how the city spends our tax dollars, how decisions are made about changes to our neighborhoods, and the powers of our elected officials. This November, the NYC Charter Revision will be on the ballot, so it’s important to understand what’s at stake. Don't miss this informative evening as Ben Yee and representatives of the commission are on hand to highlight these issues and answer your questions.
Ben Yee, a Democratic state committeeman and recent candidate for the citywide office of Public Advocate, is inspired by his passion for civics education..
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
MANHATTAN SERIES:
The Structure of Federal, NY State and City Governments
6-Week Series - Thursdays, April 4 - May 16, 2019, 5:30pm
Would you like to understand our political system better and have the tools to improve it? Join us for a community conversation to learn about how our federal, state and local governments are structured and how you can make an impact.
Empower yourself to make the changes you want by learning how the system works & what you can do to get government to respond to you.
Community Book Read: On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, March 21, 2019, 6-7:30pm
Join us for an important discussion as we review the lessons presented in On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, by Timothy Snyder, history professor at Yale University. The Founding Fathers tried to protect us from the threat they knew, the tyranny that overcame ancient democracy. It is important for everyone to understand the new threats we face and how they impact our political systems today. It's not necessary to read the book in order to attend, but it is helpful (available at the Library, Kew & Willow Books--the local Kew Garden bookstore, or online.
Timothy Snyder is one of the leading American historians and public intellectuals, and enjoys perhaps greater prominence in Europe, the subject of most of his work. He is the Housum Professor of History at Yale University and a permanent fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna. WEBSITE
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: Amazon - Lessons to be Learned
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, February 28, 2019, 6-7:30pm
Join us for an important and timely exploration into the situation surrounding Amazon's decision to move its 2nd Headquarters to Long Island City, and then its decision to not. Topics and questions we'll discuss:
What went wrong?
Is NYC missing out on a great deal or did we dodge a bullet?
What does this mean for other companies that want to come to NY?
PANELISTS INCLUDE:
Nestor Davidson, Fordham University
Lynn Ellsworth, Alliance for a Human Scale City
Juliette Michaelson, Regional Plan Association
Jeremy Rosenberg, Community Board 2
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Forum: A Recap of the 2018 Elections, with Susan Lerner
Queens Library, Forest Hills - Thursday, January 24, 2019, 6-7:30pm
Start the new year by learning where things were left off with the results of last year's MidTerm Elections. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the elections, and what it means for us and the state of politics since the new politicians have taken office.
ABOUT SUSAN LERNER
Susan Lerner is the executive director of Common Cause/New York. She writes and speaks extensively on voting rights, election reform, campaign finance, redistriicting, ethics, transparency and other good government issues.
FREE PROGRAM
Queens Library Forest Hills, 108-19 71st Avenue, Forest Hills, NY 11375 | 718.268.7934
Many Thanks to Our Supporters
We are deeply grateful to Michael Krasner for his scholastic contributions to our first workshop series. His willingness to show up to our first session in spite of a personal injury that day is a testiment to his unfailing commitment to our cause.
We greatly appreciate the extraordinary support of The Taft Institute at Queens College and the help that allowed us to realize our dream.
We are very grateful to Queens Library for their ongoing support of our organization and to the Forest Hills branch in particular for providing a welcoming venue for our events and activities.
Special thanks to the NY Public Library and the Seward Park Brnach for their help in our expansion to Manhattan.
