Questions of Civic Proportions: Is Anyone Persuadable Anymore?

We have all felt the limits of our sphere of influence in a period of polarized politics. Expertise and scientific evidence carry little weight when confronting the modern mash-up of parties and personal identity. While we imagine ourselves to be persuadable by good evidence,

Reading List: What the Warmth of Other Suns Tells Us about the American Dream

The Warmth of Other Suns is the story of the American Dream turned backwards or inside out. It’s a story that’s absolutely necessary to understand before we use that idea of the United States to measure who are or who we have ever been.

Questions of Civic Proportions: Do our civic habits reflect a healthy democracy?

With resolutions at the beginning of the year, we aim to achieve some ideal picture of ourselves. We consider how we eat, how much we drink, or how little we exercise and imagine the results we might see with the right habits.

Questions of Civic Proportions: Where can we find hope for the change we want to see?

It's the community. That's where activist and educator DeRay McKesson finds optimism. His answer required reflecting on a dangerous gap where we all risk losing our positive attitudes.

Questions of Civic Proportions: Is optimism this season's must-have item?

Tis the season for good cheer. This is the time of year where we celebrate what we have put behind us and look forward to what lies ahead. But, unfortunately, when the answers to that second question include