Start off the year strong with the Clinton School of Public Service’s January Speaker Series including a look into Arkansas’ future in 2017, a discussion on sustainable economic development, a photography exhibition and more.
Reserve your seats at any of the events by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239. If you have to miss any of the programs in person, you can watch most live on the Clinton School’s website.
“Looking Ahead to 2017: A Preview of the Upcoming Legislative Session”
Friday, Jan. 6 at noon in Sturgis Hall in partnership with Arkansas Public Media
“Looking Ahead to 2017” will feature a panel discussion focusing on issues impacting citizens of Arkansas at the local, state and federal level, including healthcare, energy production, the justice system and education reform. Panelists for the discussion will include Senator Bart Hester (R), Senator Joyce Elliott (D) and Dr. Jay Barth.
“The 2016 Election Aftermath and What Comes Next,” with Gabriel Debenedetti, political reporter for POLITICO
Wednesday, Jan. 11 at noon in Sturgis Hall
Gabriel Debenedetti is a political reporter for POLITICO. Before joining the magazine in 2015, he spent three years covering national politics for Reuters in Washington and New York. A New Jersey native, Debenedetti graduated from Princeton University, where he served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian.
“Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up: Harnessing Real-World Experience for Transformative Change,” by Anthony Flaccavento
Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Sturgis Hall
In partnership with Heifer International with a book signing to follow
Anthony Flaccavento has been farming for the past 23 years in the Appalachian region of Virginia, and working on sustainable economic development for more than three decades. His consulting firm, SCALE, works with communities around the world to build healthier food systems and stronger, more diverse local economies, including work in Arkansas with Heifer International, the Root Cafe and a farmers cooperative. In his recent book, “Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up,” he describes many examples of communities – including rural, small town and urban areas – that are building sustainable economies from the bottom up while also generating community capital, increasing civic dialogue and fostering sustainability efforts.
“The Real Reason Behind the Refugee Crisis,” a panel discussion and photography exhibition
Friday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. in Sturgis Hall
In partnership with the United States Holocaust Museum
Since its outbreak in 2011, the conflict in Syria has cost the lives of more than 400,000 people, displaced more than 11 million and involved numerous crimes against humanity. In 2013, a police photographer smuggled 53,275 photographs out of Syria. The pictures, most of them taken in Syrian military hospitals, show corpses photographed at close range, thousands of which show signs of torture. This panel discussion and photo exhibition features Stephen Rapp, former US ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice; Jim Hooper, former managing director of the Public International Law and Policy Group; and Mouaz Moustafa, executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force.
“Southern Fried: Going Whole Hog in a State of Wonder,” by Rex Nelson
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at noon in Sturgis Hall with a book signing to follow
Rex Nelson has been traveling Arkansas for decades. He learned to love the back roads, small towns and people of the state while going on trips with his father, who sold athletic supplies to high schools. Throughout his career as a sportswriter, political writer, senior staff member in the governor’s office, presidential appointee to the Delta Regional Authority and now corporate communications director for Simmons Bank, Nelson has written millions of words about Arkansas and its people.
“A Town Hall with Rock Region Metro”
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in Sturgis Hall
In partnership with the Rock Region Metro
The discussion will center on public transit and associated concepts. Rock Region Metro wants to hear from local citizens about what they want to see in the community, what concerns they have and what actions they would like to see the agency undertake to help move their vision forward.
“Sister Act,” a panel discussion
Thursday, Jan. 26 at noon in Sturgis Hall
In partnership with the Arkansas Repertory Theatre
Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, “Sister Act” will be showing at The Arkansas Repertory Theatre until Feb. 26. This panel will include the cast and crew discussing the production and more.