It should come as no surprise that the University of Richmond is hosting so many intense conversations, workshops, lectures and forums on community building and leadership – both are part-and-parcel of the new focus brought by UR's President, Ed Ayers, in recent years. Next week's "The Common Good" open discussion promises to be a great way for folks passionate about the Richmond community to come together to speak their mind about what the common good looks like – or should look like – in our community.
The event will be held Tuesday, March 31, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Jepson Alumni Center (breakfast at 7:30 a.m.); the discussion is free and open to the public, but registration closes on Friday, March 26.
"We try to offer at least one opportunity during the Jepson Leadership Forum season to have a conversation--rather than a lecture--around our theme," said Sue Robinson, who directs the program for the Jepson School of Leadership Studies. The 2009-10 Forum season, has explored The Common Good with internationally known scholars.
The Wednesday, March 31 program is organized by Jepson and the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, Leadership Metro Richmond, and LEADVirginia—all organizations interested in building social capital and furthering public discourse around topics of mutual concern. Professor of Leadership Studies Douglas A. Hicks who teaches, among other courses, justice and civil society, will open the morning at 8 a.m. with brief remarks. Then, attendees will engage in small group discussions about The Common Good in the community. Notes from the individual tables will be shared briefly in a report-out session and later developed into a written report that will be shared with the community. In addition, if there is interest, follow-up discussions will be organized by Leadership Metro Richmond.