Photo: Image Courtesy RI Civic Learning Coalition Photo by Peter Goldberg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEMOCRACY IN CRISIS – PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION & COMBATING FAKE NEWS: Community Conversations
February 18, 2022-- Providence, RI – Lippitt House Museum and Providence League of Women Voters tackle issues of fake news, civic health, and democracy in crisis in an upcoming community conversation series.
The violent attempt to disrupt the electoral process on January 6, 2021 shook many Americans’ faith in our democratic system. According to a December 2021 NPR/Ipsos poll, 64% of Americans believe democracy is in crisis and at risk of failing. Even more, 70%, feel the same about America itself. These sobering statistics inspired Lippitt House Museum and Providence League of Women Voters to focus their eighth annual Community Conversation series on how Rhode Islanders can promote civic education and combat misinformation and fake news. Lippitt House Museum Director Carrie Taylor said, “People are concerned about the current state of our country. But folks working together at the local level can make civic education more inclusive and stop misinformation. The two conversations organized by Lippitt House Museum and the Providence League of Women Voters explore ways we as a community can strengthen our democracy.”
The programs will be held via Zoom on Wednesday March 9 and 16 starting at 6:30 pm. The sessions are FREE and preregistration is required by visiting www.preserveri.org/calendar
“Democracy in Crisis: The Role of Civic Education and Its Importance for Civic Health” Community Conversation
Wednesday March 9, 2022, 6:30PM
Join students and community leaders in a lively dialogue about the value of civics education for the health of our democracy.
For American democracy to thrive it requires informed and engaged community members, and everyone should feel empowered and motivated to participate in civil society. To realize this, all community members need unfettered access to civic systems, should understand the machines of government, and be able to make informed policy and electoral choices. This program brings together youth leaders working with the Rhode Island Civic Learning Coalition and an alumnus of Genesis Center’s Citizenship Prep course for a lively multi-generational, intersectional dialogue centered around the value of civics education for the health of our democracy. Audience questions will be encouraged. This program is part of Civic Learning Week in Rhode Island. https://www.ricivics.org/civiclearningweek
“Democracy in Crisis: The Importance of Media Literacy and Combating Fake News” Community Conversation
Wednesday March 16, 2022, 6:30PM
Join Ed Fitzpatrick, Renee Hobbs, and Lynette Labinger for dialogue about journalism, media literacy, first amendment rights, and the pursuit of an informed community.
Misinformation plants seeds of mistrust in democratic processes and undermines the systems of government. What responsibility do journalists and media personalities have for identifying incorrect or deliberately misleading information especially in widespread electronic media including podcasts? What responsibility do individuals have to their community to be critical media consumers in what they view, listen to, and share? Where and how do we draw the line between fake news and free speech rights? These questions and more will be discussed during this dialogue around the vital role media plays in civic society and the importance of media literacy to an informed community. Participants: Ed Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe staff writer covering Rhode Island; Renee Hobbs, Founder of the Media Education Lab at URI; Lynette Labinger, Attorney specializing in First Amendment cases. Audience questions will be encouraged.
Financial support for the Community Conversation series is provided by the League of Women Voters Rhode Island Education Fund.
About Lippitt House Museum:
Preserve Rhode Island’s 1865 Lippitt House Museum offers guided tours May through October, summer concerts in the garden, and a variety of online programs and resources. Designated a National Historic Landmark, Lippitt House has one of the best-preserved Victorian interiors in America, allowing visitors to step into Providence’s Golden Age. Following the Lippitt family's example of public service, the Museum's cultural programming promotes civic engagement, the arts, and history of Providence. www.LippittHouse.org
About League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Education Fund:
The League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Education Fund is a non-partisan public policy educational organization, which builds citizen participation in the democratic process, studies key community issues at all government levels in an unbiased manner and enables people to seek positive solutions to public policy issues through education and conflict management.
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Contact information:
Carrie Taylor ctaylor [at] preserveri.org
Lippitt House Museum
434.906.4634
