WOW

=A Workshop without Walls: Participatory Democracy =



= = Location 1: The New York Public Library (11:00-1:00) Central Meeting Place – The outside steps (weather permitting), or Astor Hall (the main entrance hall, we’ll designate a bench or something)  Thomas Jefferson, an American celebrated for his commitment to democracy and independence, once said this : “ //Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital.” // He also said this//:// //“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty” //  Public libraries are an excellent example of educating __all__ people. In New York, as so many things in New York, the public library is a __grand__ example of this. Some things to consider:  ·  The New York Public Library System serves more than 3 million people  ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The 87 branches of the system constitute the largest research library in the world <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The main building of the New York Public Library (the one we are visiting) opened on May 23rd, 1911 <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Discussion Topic: Information and Democracy <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Questions to consider: <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Who gets their information at a public library? How do they get it? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What sort of materials are available at this branch? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">How does the information garnered at the library empower people and enable democracy? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Tasks” <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We will take half an hour or so to look at the Exhibition “Between Collaboration and Resistance: French Literary Life under Nazi occupation” – Think about the role of literature and written word in defiance and the expression of democracy? What writings empowered people? How were words used effectively? Irresponsibly? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You have about an hour just to walk around the library – look at the architecture, look at specific books, but most importantly – look at the people. How are they using the library? Are they using information technology? How important are books to the information process? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You will have 45 minutes to look at some of the other exhibits, including: “The adventures of real Winnie-the-Pooh,” “The Rose Hagaddah,” and “The Gutenberg Bible” <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Discussion: <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We might sit in Bryant Park or on the Library steps and discuss what you have seen. Where do we see democracy in action? Was Jefferson right? Are education and libraries, by extension, necessary for democracy? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Other prompts: <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To what extent does accurate or inaccurate information impact the democratic process? Where do people get their information? How has democracy changed in the information age? How does the library meet the needs of the 21st century learner? What challenges exist? What is “misinformation”? How does it impact democracy? <span style="font-size: 17pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Location 2: Little Italy and China Town (2:00-4:15) <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">(We will spread out and eat lunch in China Town. Then our base will be in Sara D. Roosevelt Park, near Grand and Forsyth St.)

<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">First, we will all eat lunch in either Chinatown or Little Italy. We will make sure you are comfortably aware of where we are meeting and send you off in groups of two, three, or four, or all together! Try some of the food in either Chinatown or Little Italy, which are each about a 10 minute walk from our central meeting location. Think about how the food you are eating embodies the culture of the neighborhood. <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The main street in Little Italy is Mulberry Street. It will be a hustling and bustling tourist destination with many restaurants. <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The main streets in Chinatown are Canal Street, Mott Street and Grand Street. Again, there will be many restaurants. Be adventurous with the food you try! <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">After an hour we will re-group. <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Discussion Topic: Community and Democracy <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Questions to consider: <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How do communities form? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How are cultural identities and traditions kept alive? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Who represents the minorities living in these neighborhoods? How do they participate in active democracy? <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Tasks”: <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ·  <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We will walk into Chinatown, and you will go off in groups of two or three to speak to shopkeepers or vendors in different stores. Ask them how they got established in their neighborhood? Who shops at their stores? How have they seen the neighborhood change? How active are they in their communities? Don’t be shy! <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">When we have about 30-45 minutes left we will walk back to the Sara D. Roosevelt Park near Forsyth Street. //<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Hester Street Collaborative //<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">has established an installation near the South End of the park. The installation was done in conjunction with a local middle school, MS 131, whose students designed the pieces. The art decorates the park and involves students in the community. Walk around, look at the art and enjoy, <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Location 3: The Tenement Museum //<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Discussion Prompt 1: //<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To what extent do middle and lower classes participate in the democratic process? //Investigation//: Museum Tour //Discussion Prompt 2//: Where are the modern tenements? How do we make sure that everyone, regardless of income, education, or class, have access to democracy? <span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">

//**Capstone Discussion: How does information play a role in democracy, and to what extent to we, participants in the process, make sure that all voices have opportunities to be heard?**//<span style="color: rgb(0,0,128);">