Socrates Program

The past two months have shone a renewed light on the Black Lives Matter movement and brought the attention and support of wider communities. For the many in the white community who consider themselves allies, the question remains how they can be partners in changing society and rebuilding our country to eliminate structural racism. In February 2020, Socrates convened participants in a seminar, “Learning from Native Sons: The Pain, Rage and Hope of America’s Most Loyal Critics”. This seminar focused on the singular promise of America and its frequently brutal history of failing to make good on that promise through the rich critical lens of black male autobiography, reading works of Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, through Richard Wright and James Baldwin, and into the present moment, with Reginald Dwayne Betts, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. The seminar was transformative for many participants, who have stayed in touch and have continued the discussions and friendships, asking how they can move towards sustainable action. In this webinar longtime Socrates alum Lincoln Ellis will moderate a discussion between three Native Sons seminar participants, Haley Littleton, Samuel, Kimbriel, and Brenda Gerber Vincent. They will discuss the initial impacts of their seminar experience and how their learning and growth has continued since leaving the seminar room.

Global Upheaval, Democratic Decline, and U.S. National Security; Content Moderation in the Digital Age; The Business of Race --From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration-- and the Need for an Inclusive Economy; Disruptive Reconstruction: Making the American Dream Real Again… and for All; More Perfect: How the Principles of the American Revolution Have Defined America, from 1776 to Today.

Many people had read about food deserts and food security before the coronavirus pandemic, but the last two months has revealed concerning brittleness in the food supply chain. We see reports on farmers destroying food they can’t store while food pantries are over-subscribed. What are the public and private sectors currently doing to ensure supply chains are safe? Who are the portions of the US population are at most risk? What should be the actions to provide food security for the most vulnerable populations? What could be the implications brought by COVID-19 for food security in the future?

Elections are often regarded as a reflection of the strength and qualities of a country’s democracy. The 2016 election revealed deep flaws in the U.S. voting process. Election security was a national security concern in the 2020 election cycle even before the global COVID-19 pandemic put the logistics of holding an election into question. What is the status of the critical infrastructure that underpins fair and open voting? Can we ensure a voting process that upholds confidence in American democracy? How can the federal agencies work with the state and local election entities to create safe voting practices that maintain confidence in the voting process? In the midst of these questions of protecting against fraud, misinformation also poses a risk to undermining the democratic process. In a moment of turbulence and distrust, can America have an election that is secure?

In the past few months, as a society, we have had to rethink almost everything. When globally pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria remain among the leading causes of death among children under age 5, how much progress have we really made?

Many people had read about food deserts and food security before the coronavirus pandemic, but the last two months has revealed concerning brittleness in the food supply chain. We see reports on farmers destroying food they can’t store while food pantries are over-subscribed. What are the public and private sectors currently doing to ensure supply chains are safe? Who are the portions of the US population are at most risk? What should be the actions to provide food security for the most vulnerable populations? What could be the implications brought by COVID-19 for food security in the future?

Big Data has the power to fuel discovery and inform decision-making, but harnessing it comes at the price of privacy. The United States Constitution enshrines civil liberties at its core. The individual rights it protects are sacrosanct to many Americans. Crises, such as wars and the current pandemic put pressures on these rights and lead to difficult trade-offs.

In a world filled with increasing uncertainty and unknowns, how do we productively plan for the future? While we can't predict, we can learn how to "rehearse" it to be more prepared. Scenario planning is a technique that helps teams have well-designed conversations about the future, especially when they face major uncertainty and change.

Digital technology, its pervasiveness in our lives, its impact on how we think and remember, its central role in mediating our relationships, has been a growing concern for parents navigating raising children in a rapidly changing landscape. Physical distancing, brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, has accelerated the use of these technologies, with classes going virtual and social activities moved online. How will this collective leap to functioning virtually affect our children’s lives, ability to learn and to relate to others?

oin the Socrates program for our upcoming webinar. The COVID-19 global pandemic has revealed the fragility of the new world order and the lethal weaknesses of the supply chain. Cyber weapons, deep fakes, and misinformation have been exploited, as is unfortunately to be expected, but our critical supplier dependency has been exacerbated by the crisis. What are short-term solutions that will allow us to adjust and adapt; and, what are the long-term reforms that will prevent future catastrophic failures?

Many people had read about food deserts and food security before the coronavirus pandemic, but the last two months has revealed concerning brittleness in the food supply chain. We see reports on farmers destroying food they can’t store while food pantries are over-subscribed. What are the public and private sectors currently doing to ensure supply chains are safe? Who are the portions of the US population are at most risk? What should be the actions to provide food security for the most vulnerable populations? What could be the implications brought by COVID-19 for food security in the future?

With the aim of creating connections, promoting civil discourse, and increasing dialogue in local communities across America, this convening is part of a national series that will serve as a forum to reflect -- together -- on the rich history of America while wrestling with threats to our national pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.