NEWS

This is a special announcement from the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative and supplement to our regular DCI Newsletter. We’ll only send these announcements occasionally for events not included in the main newsletter.

We are excited to share with you the information below about two events we are hosting with Eric Liu during his upcoming visit to campus. You can attend his public lecture either in-person or online. Everyone is welcome to RSVP today!

 

Monday, February 6th, 5 pm to 6:30 pm

Is it possible to escape our culture of hyperindividualism, digital isolation, and status anxiety? What does it mean to be an engaged citizen in today’s divisive and divided political landscape? How can we come together to restore hope, find joy and purpose, revive democracy, and feel part of a connected community? Citizen University CEO Eric Liu confronts these questions, celebrates the shared values and beliefs that unite us, and provides an action plan for powerful citizenship. Drawing from his hit TED talk and the “Civic Saturdays” phenomenon his organization sparked, Liu will challenge us to rehumanize our politics and rekindle a spirit of love and responsibility in civic life. Not just for the good we will do for society, but for the powerful good that we will do for ourselves. To RSVP for this free event co-hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement and the Deliberative Citizenship Initiative, click here (in-person and streaming options available).

Monday, February 6th, 7 pm to 8:30 pm

After his keynote address, Citizen University CEO Eric Liu will lead a smaller interactive conversation exploring the key insights from the Better Arguments Project, a national civic initiative that Liu helped create “to help bridge divides – not by papering over those divides but by helping people have better arguments.” Designed as a practical approach to enable individuals and groups with diverse perspectives to engage with one another (without rushing prematurely towards reconciliation), the Better Arguments Project focuses on incorporating historical context, emotional intelligence, and a recognition of power dynamics into these efforts. It is also based on five key principles for better arguments, which Liu will introduce and help participants actively consider how they can incorporate into their future conversations across differences. Dinner is included for all participants, but seating is limited so RSVP as soon as possible if you are interested in joining. 

Eric Liu
Citizen University CEO and Co-Founder

SPEAKER BACKGROUND

“Democracy works only when enough of us believe democracy works,” says Eric Liu. How do we rekindle that belief? How do we, as individuals, organizations, communities, corporations — even professions — reinvigorate the meaning and spirit of citizenship in America? These are the questions civic evangelist Eric Liu explores in his compelling, acclaimed talks – talks that celebrate our shared values and challenge Americans to live up to them. Liu is one of the country’s most sought-after speakers on citizen power, civic health, the future of democracy, and American identity. His inspirational 2019 main stage TED Talk, based on his work at Citizen University, received a standing ovation and more than topped one million views in less than a month. His two previous TED Talks, on power and on voting, have been viewed three million times. Recently, Liu has been elected to membership in the American Academy of the Arts and selected to be a 2020 Ashoka Fellow. In both cases he was recognized by colleagues and was championed by friends. 

Liu, son of Chinese immigrants and former White House speechwriter, is the CEO of Citizen University, a nonprofit working to foster a culture of powerful, responsible citizenship. He also directs the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship & American Identity Program and is a correspondent at TheAtlantic.com. His eight books include You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen, and the national best-sellers The Gardens of Democracy and True Patriot. His first book, The Accidental Asian, Notes of a Native Speaker was a New York Times Notable Book featured in the PBS documentary, “Matters of Race.” Liu’s latest book is Become America: Civic Sermons on Love, Responsibility and Democracy, which grows out of the Civic Saturday phenomenon that Liu and his team pioneered and has now spread nationwide. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and later as the President’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He has also served as a board member of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Washington State Board of Education and the Seattle Public Library and is co-founder of the Alliance for Gun Responsibility. He is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.