Initiative for Engaged Citizenship
Citizens’ Seminar Syllabus

Saturday, March 13th

Workshop One: Foundations

Session One: Orientation to Civic Character and Civil Society
10am-noon
Faculty: Congressman Jim McGovern, Jennifer Carey

Why are we here? Why is this important?
What is civil society? Is it a part of society or a kind of society?
How does the concept of the good society relate to the idea of civil society?
How do we cultivate civil society?
What is the role of government in civil society?
What is the role of associations in civil society?
What is the role of the individual in civil society?

Every Day Democracy: Carolyne Abdullah

 

Networking Lunch

Session Two: Public Policy Making
1pm-3pm
Faculty: Jim Leary, Michael Caljouw, Karyn Polito

What is the architecture of government?
How does government work at the federal level?
How does government work at the state level in Massachusetts?
How does government work at the local level in our state?
Who cares?
Who is elected to care?
Who is paid to care?
Who volunteers to care?
How can citizens lend their time, talent, expertise or opinions?
How can citizens be heard?

Saturday, March 27th

Workshop Two: Public Policy Matters

Session Three: Identifying Public Policy Issues
10am-noon
Faculty: Senator Richard Moore, Dan Winslow, Dennis Irish

When is an issue an issue?
What are the triggering factors that bring matters to a public forum? The role of scope, duration, intensity, resources, crisis in effecting an issue
What is the policy calendar?
How do the legislative and budget process affect policy making

 

Networking Lunch
Case Presentation: HOPE Coalition and Tobacco Advertising

Session Four: Developing a Public Policy Proposal
1pm-3pm
Faculty: Linda Cavaioli, Elana Margolis, Walter Jovel

How to conduct policy research
How to look through multiple lenses
How to be exhaustive in research, but stay on target
How to identify related issues

Saturday, April 10th

Workshop Three: Action and Advocacy

Session Five: Engaging Hearts, Minds, and Hands
Faculty: Carey Thiel, Christine Dorchak, Fran Monocchio

How to engage the public
How to develop a strategy
How to build inclusive coalitions
How to engage the power structure
How to speak truth to power
How to engage policy-makers
Using the media
The role of associations

Networking Lunch

Session Six: Mock Hearing
Faculty: Jack Foley, Harriet Chandler, Barbara Haller

Wednesday, April 14th

Session Seven: Wrap-up
Reception
Faculty: Ambassador Paul Cellucci

completion of evaluation forms
presentation of certificates

Applications for the Seminar are available on at www.initiativeforengagedcitizenship.org
There is a $25.00 fee for participation in the Seminar due upon acceptance.