| “HOW TO SAVE DEMOCRACY IN THE 21ST CENTURY”
 Harry Boyte has been working for democracy since his days with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., as field secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. For the past 20 years, Boyte has developed methods and concepts to empower citizens and promote democracy. In “How to Save Democracy in the 21st Century,” Boyte will talk about what is important for an effective democracy and things the next generation should know about citizenship. Boyte’s presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, at the Weisman Art Museum, 333 E. River Rd., Minneapolis, as part of the museum’s exhibition Who is a Citizen? What is Citizenship?
Boyte is co-director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship (CDC) at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. In his presentation, he will talk about the concept of public work and CDC’s role in promoting active citizenship. He will reflect on the center’s successful efforts such as Public Achievement, an international youth civic engagement initiative; the Jane Addams School for Democracy, a citizenship and education program for immigrant families and college students located on the West Side of St. Paul; and the statewide Warrior to Citizen campaign, which helps to reintegrate veterans into community life.
“In recent years, scholars and observers have documented a sharp decline in America’s civic health. Their trust in institutions and in each other has dropped precipitously. Eighty percent of Americans say that the nation is headed in the wrong direction,” said Boyte. “But among the discouraging signs, recent national surveys show the Millennial Generation—persons born roughly between 1980 and 2000—voicing a strong desire for active citizenship and change.”
All are invited to attend this free program and view the Weisman Art Museum’s displays on citizenship, power, and democracy. For more information, visit www.publicwork.org.
April 10, 2008
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