Institute Insider

April 28 | Harry Boyte will talk about "Civic Agency and the Reporter's Role"
12:45-2 p.m., Freeman Commons (205 HHH)

What is civic agency? How do you tell stories about community-based activism? Senior Fellow Harry Boyte, co-director of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, will talk about "Civic Agency and the Reporter's Role" from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 28, in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). He will address why it is important that journalists write about civic agency. He also will talk about how civic activists can successfully share their stories as agents of change. All are welcome to attend.

April 28 | Panel discussion on diplomacy and democracy building
6 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Humphrey Institute will co-host a panel discussion on diplomacy and democracy building around the world at 6 p.m. on April 28 in Cowles Auditorium. The program is presented in partnership with the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute, and the American Academy of Diplomacy - will reveal what it takes to promote and sustain democracy abroad. Ambassadors and on-the-ground personnel from such regions as the Middle East, Latin America, and Yemen will give first-person accounts of their work and its challenges. The program is free and presented in partnership with the Minnesota International Center.

April 29 | Book signing with political scholar Larry Diamond
Noon-1:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

Political scholar Larry Diamond, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, will talk about his new book, The Spirit of Democracy. One of America’s preeminent experts on democracy, Diamond will give his analysis on future prospects for freedom around the world. A panel discussion among Diamond, Humphrey Institute Dean J. Brian Atwood, and University of Minnesota political scientists Lisa Hilbink and August Nimitz will follow. The program is co-sponsored by the Humphrey Institute and the University’s Department of Political Science’s Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics.

April 29 | Hill Fellow symposium with Charles M. Denny, Jr.
4:30-6:30 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

Charles M. Denny, Jr., the 2007–08 Louis W. Hill, Jr., Fellow in Philanthropy, will conclude his one-year fellowship with a public presentation of his research on corporate philanthropy and citizenship. All are welcome to the Hill Symposium from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on April 29 in Cowles Auditorium.

April 21 | Local Government Innovation Awards
2–5 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, in collaboration with the Association of Minnesota Counties, the League of Minnesota Cities, and the Minnesota School Boards Association, will host the second annual Local Government Innovation Awards from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 21, in Cowles Auditorium. The awards program recognizes outstanding cities, counties, and public schools that have used inventive practices to improve local services. The awards ceremony is free and open to the public.

April 21-22 | “Making Communities Work: Leadership Across Public, Private, Nonprofit, and Geographic Boundaries”

Senior Fellow Tim Penny will headline the 2008 Center for Integrative Leadership conference, “Making Communities Work: Leadership Across Public, Private, Nonprofit, and Geographic Boundaries,” April 21-22 at the Humphrey Institute. Registration for the two-day event is $80 per person. Find out more online at www.extension.umn.edu/MakingCommunitiesWork or contact Joyce Hoelting at 612-625-8233.

April 22 | Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne will talk about politics and religion
Noon–1:30 p.m., Humphrey Forum (rescheduled from earlier in the spring)

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne will talk about his new book, Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right, from noon to 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, in the Humphrey Forum. All are welcome. The program is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

April 22 | Global policy workshop
12:45-2 p.m., Stassen Room (170 HHH)

The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will sponsor a global policy workshop with visiting history professor Taner Akcam from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on April 22 in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). Akcam will talk about "Contemporary Politics of Turkey and the Armenians." All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

April 28 | Panel discussion on diplomacy and democracy building
6 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Humphrey Institute will co-host a panel discussion on diplomacy and democracy building around the world at 6 p.m. on April 28 in Cowles Auditorium. The program is presented in partnership with the National Democratic Institute, International Republican Institute, and the American Academy of Diplomacy - will reveal what it takes to promote and sustain democracy abroad. Ambassadors and on-the-ground personnel from such regions as the Middle East and Latin America and Yemen will give first-person accounts of their work and its challenges. The program is free and presented in partnership with the Minnesota International Center. Registration is requested at (612) 625-5002.

April 15 | The politics of U.S. election reform with Norm Ornstein
12:15-1:30 p.m., Humphrey Center atrium

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG) will host a national conference on “The Future of Election Reform: 2008 and Beyond,” April 13–15 at the Humphrey Institute. The three-day conference fee is $375, but the luncheon featuring Norm Ornstein on April 15 is open to the general public; registration is $20. Ornstein will address "The Politics of Election Reform" from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the atrium. For more information, contact Lea Chittenden at chit0018@umn.edu or (612) 625-2530.

April 16 | Humphrey Institute spring assembly, “Visions for Public Affairs Education in the Year 2020”
1-3 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Humphrey Institute will hold its annual spring assembly from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, in Cowles Auditorium. Representatives from the Institute’s six policy areas will give presentations that examine the significant policy and planning issues potentially facing the world in the year 2020. All are invited to attend. A reception will follow in the atrium.

April 17 | “The Global Role of Muslims in Humanitarian Aid”
4 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Sawyer Seminar series concludes with a lecture from Hany El-Banna at 4 p.m. on April 17 in Cowles Auditorium. He is the co-founder and president of Islamic Relief, the largest Western-based international Muslim relief and development NGO. Islamic Relief aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish local development projects to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease. El-Banna will talk about “The Global Role of Muslims in Humanitarian Aid.”

April 17 | Discussion with Harry Boyte about civic agency
7 p.m., Weisman Art Museum

Senior Fellow Harry Boyte argues that our society requires a much deeper focus on “civic agency”—the collective abilities of citizens and communities to work across differences on common challenges. Boyte will address these ideas in “How to Save Democracy in the 21st Century” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, at the Weisman Art Museum.

April 18 | Graduation ceremony for international fellows
4 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

All are invited to a graduation ceremony for the 2007–08 class of international fellows at 4 p.m. on April 18 in Cowles Auditorium. Refreshments will be served.

April 21 | Local Government Innovation Awards
2–5 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, in collaboration with the Association of Minnesota Counties, the League of Minnesota Cities, and the Minnesota School Boards Association, will host the second annual Local Government Innovation Awards from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 21, in Cowles Auditorium. The awards program recognizes outstanding cities, counties, and public schools that have used inventive practices to improve local services. The awards ceremony is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. To attend, please RSVP to Susan Earle at earle030@umn.edu.

April 21-22 | “Making Communities Work: Leadership Across Public, Private, Nonprofit, and Geographic Boundaries”

Senior Fellow Tim Penny will headline the 2008 Center for Integrative Leadership conference, “Making Communities Work: Leadership Across Public, Private, Nonprofit, and Geographic Boundaries,” April 21-22 at the Humphrey Institute. Registration for the two-day event is $80 per person. Find out more online or contact Joyce Hoelting at 612-625-8233.

Freeman Lecture with Congressman James Oberstar on April 8
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Cowles Auditorium and atrium

Congressman James Oberstar will keynote this year’s Freeman Lecture on Tuesday, April 8, in Cowles Auditorium. Panelists will address current conditions and problems confronting Minnesota’s water supply. More information is online at www.freemanforum.org.

Global policy workshop on April 8
12:45-2 p.m., Stassen Room (170 HHH)

The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will sponsor a global policy workshop with visiting scholar Kaye Husbands Fealing from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on April 8 in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). Husbands Fealing will talk about "Technological Change and Regional Prosperity in a Globalized Economy." All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

"Urbanization in China and the Associated Challenges" on April 9
12:45-2 p.m., Stassen Room (170 HHH)

Assistant Professor Xinyu (Jason) Cao will talk about "Urbanization in China and the Associated Challenges" from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). His lecture is sponsored by the State and Local Policy Program as part of its monthly brownbag discussion series. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome to attend.

“Global Rebellion: Religious Challenges to the Secular State” on April 9
4 p.m., Wilkins Room (215 HHH)

The Sawyer Seminar will feature a lecture by Mark Juergensmeyer, director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies and professor of sociology and religious studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in the Wilkins Room (215 HHH). Juergensmeyer is an expert on religious violence, conflict resolution, and South Asian religion and politics. His widely read book, Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence, is based on interviews with violent religious activists around the world—including individuals convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, leaders of Hamas, and abortion clinic bombers in the United States.

“The Crisis in Sudan and the Humanitarian Response” on April 10
4 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

The Sawyer Seminar continues with a presentation by Andrew S. Natsios, the Distinguished Professor in Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, at 4 p.m. on April 10 in Cowles Auditorium. Natsios has served as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and managed USAID’s reconstruction programs in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sudan. He will talk about his work in Darfur and around the world.

Workshop about citizenship and public engagement on April 10
4-6 p.m., Weisman Art Museum

Citizens sometimes feel shut out of the political process or unsure of how to exert influence on issues. In Citizenship 101, a workshop co-sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, participants will learn about tools and avenues for exercising their democratic rights. All are welcome from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, at the Weisman Art Museum.

Dean's International Forum on April 11
9-10 a.m., Freeman Commons (205 HHH)

All are invited to the next Dean’s International Forum from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, April 11, in Freeman Commons. Dean Brian Atwood will join Andrew Natsios in conversation about the future of American foreign assistance programs. Natsios and Dean Atwood previously served as Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). They will talk about their time with USAID and comment on the future of such programs designed to reduce poverty. Refreshments will be provided.

Election administration conference with Norm Ornstein April 13-15

The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG) will host a national conference on “The Future of Election Reform: 2008 and Beyond,” April 13–15 at the Humphrey Institute. Part of CSPG’s Program for Excellence in Election Administration, the conference will feature local and national experts on election reform and voter organization, including Norm Ornstein from the American Enterprise Institute. The three-day conference fee is $375. The luncheon featuring Ornstein is open to the general public; registration is $20. For more information, visit www.politicsandgovernance.org/programs/electionadministration.html or contact Lea Chittenden at chit0018@umn.edu or (612) 625-2530.

“Water and the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples” on April 2, 12:15-1:15 p.m., Mondale Hall, Room 30
Roxanne T. Ornelas, a race, gender, and public policy postdoctoral fellow at the Humphrey Institute, will lecture on “Water and the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples” from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on April 2 in Room 30 at Mondale Hall. Please note the change of date for this program. Lunch will be served!

Brownbag discussion about nonprofit mergers on April 3, 12:45-2 p.m., Freeman Commons (205 HHH)
The Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center will co-sponsor a brownbag discussion about nonprofit mergers from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on April 3 in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). Staff members from Project ReDesign, a pilot project at MAP for Nonprofits, will talk about their efforts to counsel nonprofit organizations considering a merger.

International fellow will talk about "Competition Policy and Economic Development in South Korea" on April 4, Noon-1:30 p.m., Vocational Technical Education Building, Room 380
Humphrey international fellow Byung Geon Lee, deputy director of the Korea Fair Trade Commission, will lecture about "Competition Policy and Economic Development in South Korea" from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 4, in room 380 at the Vocational Technical Education Building, 1954 Buford Avenue in St. Paul. There is no charge to attend, and lunch will be served. Please RSVP to parkx347@umn.edu.

Conference on the vice-presidency with Walter F. Mondale on March 24
8:30 a.m. -noon, Cowles Auditorium

Once the 2008 presidential candidates are selected, greater attention will be paid to possible running mates. What should we look for in the next vice president? What political factors might influence the selection of a running mate in 2008? The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and the preeminent journal on the presidency, Presidential Studies Quarterly, will sponsor a conference on the vice presidency featuring Vice President Walter F. Mondale from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 24, in Cowles Auditorium. Leading experts from around the country will address these questions with Vice President Mondale and discuss the selection of the vice presidential nominees. The program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested at cspg@umn.edu.

Global policy workshop on March 25
12:45-2 p.m., Stassen Room (170 HHH)

The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will sponsor a global policy workshop with Assistant Professor Jerry Zhao from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on March 25 in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). All are welcome to attend. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Georgia and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in urban planning from Tongji University, Shanghai (China). In his earlier career as an urban planer, he consulted for many local governments across China. His presentation will address China’s one-child policy. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Ronald Heifetz lecture on leadership on March 26
12:30-1:45 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

Ronald Heifetz, King Hussein bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, will give a public lecture about adaptive leadership from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, in Cowles Auditorium. The lecture is co-sponsored by the Center for Integrative Leadership and the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

“Norway and the United States in the 21st Century” on March 26
6-7 p.m., Cowles Auditorium

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Store will address the relationship between “Norway and the United States in the 21st Century” from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, in Cowles Auditorium. Since 1989, St�re has held a number of senior posts with the Norwegian government. Before taking up his current post, he was chief of staff at the World Health Organization. And from 2003 to 2005, he was secretary-general of the Norwegian Red Cross. He became Norway’s minister of foreign affairs in 2005. The visit from the minister is presented in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, the Minnesota International Center, and the Humphrey Institute. Admission to the public forum is free, but advance registration is requested. Please register online at www.micglobe.org or call (612) 625-4421.

Front Runners: Women with Political Ambition on March 26
6-8 p.m., State Capitol rotunda (please note the change in date and location)

Front Runners will hold its next monthly workshop for women interested in electoral politics from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at the State Capitol. Participants will meet with women legislators and discuss the changing role of women in government. A capitol tour will conclude the workshop, but spots are limited. Please RSVP to Debra Fitzpatrick at harex004@umn.edu by March 13. For more information, visit the Center on Women and Public Policy website.

Perspectives on Public Affairs discussion group will gather March 27
1:30-2:30 p.m., Freeman Commons (205 HHH)

The Perspectives on Public Affairs (PPA) discussion group will meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). Visit the PPA website to download the article for discussion, "It's Not Just About the Money: Governmentality and Resistance in Post-Reform Welfare Offices" by Celeste Watkins. Professor Joe Soss will host the meeting. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP to Jeremy Gordon at gord0215@umn.edu.

Art, public policy, and national security on March 27
7-9 p.m., Weisman Art Museum

Security expert Bruce Schneier, author of Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World, will talk about the “Theater of Security” from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the Weisman Art Museum. In his book, Schneier explains how security works and attempts to bring the reader beyond fear to start thinking sensibly and creatively about security. The Humphrey Institute will co-sponsor this program as part of the Weisman’s new exhibition Paul Shambroom: Picturing Power.

“Represent! Civic Videos by Area Youth” on March 29
1:30-3:30 p.m., Weisman Art Museum

The Center for Democracy and Citizenship will co-sponsor “Represent! Civic Videos by Area Youth” with the Weisman Art Museum from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. Teen video artists and civic activists from Hope Community, Inc., in Minneapolis and various community-based programs in West Saint Paul will come together to share their concerns, questions, and vision for the future through conversation and film. Find out more online.

March 24 | Conference on the vice-presidency with Walter F. Mondale
8:30 a.m. -noon, Cowles Auditorium

Once the 2008 presidential candidates are selected, greater attention will be paid to possible running mates. What should we look for in the next vice president? What political factors might influence the selection of a running mate in 2008? The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance and the preeminent journal on the presidency, Presidential Studies Quarterly, will sponsor a conference on the vice presidency featuring Vice President Walter F. Mondale from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 24, in Cowles Auditorium. Leading experts from around the country will address these questions with Vice President Mondale and discuss the selection of the vice presidential nominees. The program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is requested at cspg@umn.edu.

"The Science of Science and Innovation Policy" on March 11
10:30 a.m. - noon, Cowles Auditorium

Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential to American competition and to development and progress. With limited financial resources, how should our country balance impending social needs with the potential benefits of scientific research? And how should the United States evaluate potential research projects? Visiting economist Kaye Husbands Fealing will talk about “The Science of Science and Innovation Policy” from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, March 11, in Cowles Auditorium. She will present her work as a science adviser at the National Science Foundation. A panel of respondents will follow her remarks. The discussion is sponsored by the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy.

Global policy workshop on March 11
12:45-2 p.m., Stassen Room (170 HHH)

The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will sponsor a global policy workshop with Assistant Professor Greta Friedemann-Sanchez from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on March 11 in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). All are welcome to attend. Her research on rural development in Latin America (Colombia) explores the links between agro-industrial employment in the context of structural adjustment programs and the individual and gendered experience of employment and socioeconomic development and change at the household level. Specifically, Friedemann-Sanchez looks at the role of property ownership, social capital, and domestic abuse in the intrahousehold bargaining process. She also studies family caregivers of U.S. service members who have sustained polytraumatic and blast related injuries, exploring the socioeconomic and health related costs and benefits of being a caregiver.

"Deconcentrating Poverty in Minneapolis: The Foreign-Born Experience” on March 12
12:45-2 p.m., Wilkins Room (215 HHH)

The State and Local Policy Program will host a brownbag discussion with Assistant Professor Ryan Allen from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, in the Wilkins Room (215 HHH). He will address "Deconcentrating Poverty in Minneapolis: The Foreign-Born Experience.”

“The Opportunities and Challenges of Nonprofit Advocacy” on March 13
Noon-2 p.m., Humphrey Forum

The Humphrey Institute will host a panel discussion of the “Opportunities and Challenges of Nonprofit Advocacy” from noon to 2 p.m. on March 13 in the Humphrey Forum. Minnesota’s nonprofit organizations have a long history of advocacy and public policy development. The discussion will offer a broad national view of nonprofit organizations and a local analysis of the advocacy being done by nonprofits throughout Minnesota. The panelists include leading academic Jeff Berry, Tufts University; Marcia Avner, director of public policy for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; and Susie Brown, public policy director at Family and Children’s Service. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP by March 7 to Karen McCauley at meyer094@umn.edu or (612) 624-2465. This event is co-sponsored by the Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center, the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance, and the Cowles Endowment for the Study of Public Service.

Women and Politics Reading Group on March 5
The Women and Politics Reading Group will discuss Saturday’s Child: A Memoir by Robin Morgan at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). Morgan is a former child actor who became a prize-winning author and a national leader in the women’s movement. In Saturday’s Child, she writes about her personal and professional life and her decades-long fight for civil rights.

Women’s Human Rights Film Series on March 6
The Women’s Human Rights Film Series will feature a free screening of View from a Grain of Sand at 12:45 p.m. on March 6 in the Humphrey Forum. The movie captures the last 30 years of Afghanistan's history as lived by three Afghan women. The event is sponsored by the Center on Women and Public Policy.

Basketball game between Humphrey Institute and the Brian Coyle Youth Center on March 7
Members of the Humphrey Institute will take on the youth from the Brian Coyle Community Center in a basketball game from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7, at the Coyle center. The Humphrey Institute lost last time, so they need all the support you can give! Faculty members, staff members, and students are all invited. Questions? Contact Desirée L. Culpitt ('07 MPP) at culpi016@umn.edu. or e-mail chance@umn.edu.

Global policy workshop on February 26
The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will host the next global policy workshop from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). University of Minnesota law professor Thomas F. Cotter will talk about “TRIP’s and Essential Medicines.” Cotter will present a short overview of patents and essential medicines in the context of TRIPs and give an update on recent developments. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

“Great Conversations” focuses on American democracy on February 26
Professor Larry Jacobs will engage in a conversation about American democracy and dissent with Daniel Ellsberg at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, as part of the University of Minnesota’s “Great Conversations” series. Ellsberg is a former American military analyst who precipitated a national uproar in 1971 when he leaked the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study of the U.S. government’s decision making during the Vietnam War. The publication of this document set in motion a chain of historic events that ended both the Nixon presidency and the Vietnam War. Tickets are $28.50 ($23.50 for U of M faculty, staff, students, and UMAA and MPR members). To order tickets call (612) 624-2345.

Film screening of Crimes of Honour on February 27
The Women’s Human Rights Film Series will feature Crimes of Honour at 5:30 p.m. on February 27 in the Humphrey Forum. Filmed in Jordan and on the West Bank, Crimes of Honour examines the practice of femicide, or honor killings, found throughout the Islamic world. There is no charge to attend.

Perspective on Public Affairs discussion group will meet February 28
The next meeting of the Perspectives on Public Affairs (PPA) conversation group will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 28, in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). Please visit the PPA website to download the article that will be the basis for discussion, "The Rise of Nonstate Actors in Migration Regulation in the United States and Europe: Changing the Gatekeepers or Bringing Back the State?" Professor Kathy Fennelly will host the discussion. Light snacks will be provided. Please RSVP to Jeremy Gordon at gord0215@umn.edu.

Sawyer Seminar with David Kennedy on February 28
The Sawyer Seminar will feature a lecture about human rights and humanitarianism by Harvard law professor David Kennedy at 4 p.m. on February 28 in Cowles Auditorium. He will talk about "The Mystery of Global Governance."

Dean's International Forum on February 29
The Dean's International Forum will feature Edith Mussukuya-Kerre from 9 to 10 a.m. on Friday, February 29, in Freeman Commons (205 HHH). Mussukuya-Kerre was recently appointed to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). She previously served as the coordinator of a project in Sub-Saharan Africa that assessed environmental, socio-economic, health, and community-based impacts on transboundary waters. She will talk about the assessment and her work to develop policies in Sub-Saharan Africa to manage shared natural resources. All are welcome. Refreshments will be provided.

11th annual Chili-Off set for February 18
The State and Local Policy Program will host the 11th annual Chili-Off at high noon on Monday, February 18, in the atrium. All are invited to taste the entries and vote for your favorite.

Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne on February 18
Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne will talk about his new book Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right from 3 to 4:15 p.m. on February 18 in Cowles Auditorium.

“Trafficking in Human Rights: Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights” on February 20
The Race, Gender, and Public Policy (RGPP) initiative will host a discussion with Professor Wendy Chapkis about “Trafficking in Human Rights: Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights” from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on February 20 in the Wilkins Room (215 Humphrey Center). Chapkis will discuss her research, which considers the effects of governmental policies on human rights, like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, while evaluating their impact on women’s sexual activity. All are welcome.

“Race and Gender Along the Global Assembly Line” on February 21
All are invited to a half-day seminar on “Race and Gender Along the Global Assembly Line” from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, in the Wilkins Room (215 Humphrey Center). Vera Fennell, an RGPP postdoctoral fellow at the Humphrey Institute, will moderate the program featuring keynote speaker Bama Athreya, executive director of the International Labor Rights Forum. The program will conclude with a screening of the film Mardi Gras: Made in China. There is no charge to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

Black History Month celebration on February 21 The MN-Metro Area Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators will celebrate Black History Month from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, at the Humphrey Institute. A panel of local business and advocacy leaders will discuss shaping public policies and social and economic justice for all. Please RSVP to msp.nfbpa@gmail.com.

"Defining the Economic Challenges of East Asia" on February 22 The Humphrey Institute will host and co-sponsor a half-day program on “Defining the Economic Challenges of East Asia” from 8 to 11 a.m. on Friday, February 22. The program will explore the economic relationship between Japan and the United States, the pace and depth of East Asian economic integration, and China’s economic challenges. Registration is complimentary for faculty and students and $25 for the general public. To register, call (612) 627-9357 or e-mail jasm@us-japan.org no later than February 20.

“Networks and Neighborhoods in Cyberspace” on February 11
Facebook, Linkedln, and MySpace are online networks that connect millions of people everyday. But how do online networks affect learning and communication? What are the educational, cultural, political, and ethical implications of intersecting virtual and physical communities? A Minnesota Futures Grant Symposium, “Networks and Neighborhoods in Cyberspace,” will address these questions from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 11, at Walter Library (East Bank). The speakers will include Senior Fellow Steve Kelley. Find out more.

“Strategic Venturing in the Global Medical Device Industry” on February 12
The Freeman Center for International Economic Policy will host a workshop on global policy from 12:45 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, in the Stassen Room (170 HHH). Carlson School professor Sheryl Winston Smith will talk about “Strategic Venturing in the Global Medical Device Industry: Corporate Venture Capital and International Entrepreneurship.” All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Veteran political observer Ted Van Dyk will speak at the Humphrey Institute on February 12
Dean’s Advisory Council member and political observer Ted Van Dyk, author of Heroes, Hacks, and Fools: Memoirs from the Political Inside (University of Washington Press 2007), will discuss his book at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12, in Cowles Auditorium. He will talk about his long career as a presidential candidate adviser and offer his take on the 2008 presidential race. The event is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP by calling (612) 625-5002. Books will be available for purchase.

Brownbag discussion about the Ford Plant site on February 13
Merritt Clapp-Smith, a planner with the St. Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development, will talk about redevelopment plans for the Ford Plant site from 12:45 to 2 p.m. in the Wilkins Room (215 HHH). This program is sponsored by the State and Local Policy Program.

Front Runners workshop on February 13
Front Runners is a once-a-month series of networking, strategizing, skill building, and peer support workshops for women interested in running for electoral office. Participants gather from 6 to 8 p.m. in room 205 at the Humphrey Institute. Candidates, campaign managers, elected officials, and others help participants think through and act on the elements of a short or long term plan leading to elected office. This month participants will learn more about developing credibility on important policy issues. There is no charge to attend, and all are welcome. This program is sponsored by the Center on Women and Public Policy. Find out more.

11th annual Chili-Off set for February 18
The State and Local Policy Program will host the 11th annual Chili-Off at high noon on Monday, February 18, in the atrium. Show off your culinary skills and enter your best chili for consideration. The winner gets a full year of bragging rights and a swell winner’s trophy belt handcrafted by Lee Munnich (your Institute Insider editor should know as the current title holder). To enter the chili-off, contact Frank Douma at fdouma@umn.edu or sign up at the front desk by noon on February 15.