The Illinois Humanities Council will fund a series of public policy discussions in libraries throughout the state beginning this February and running through April 2002.

CHOICES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: DEFINING OUR ROLE IN A CHANGING WORLD is a national program designed to engage citizens in open dialogue about issues such as immigration, the environment, foreign trade and conflict resolution that identify who we are as a nation and how we define our role in a new century. In light of the events of September 11th, this yearís program will pay particular attention to such topics as conflict resolution, terrorism, and the global economy. The program allows citizens to participate in four in-depth discussions on public policy issues and encourages them to participate in the democratic process. At the end of the series, participants complete a ballot which will be tabulated and compiled into a report distributed to the media, public officials and to sponsoring organizations.

SITES, DISCUSSION LEADERS, AND DATES FOR CHOICES SERIES:

Thomas Ford Memorial Library

800 N. Chestnut

Western Springs

dates: April, 2002

topics: TBA

discussion leader: Werner Krieglstein

contact person: Anne Van de Ven 708-246-0520

Gail Borden Public Library

200 N. Grove Ave.

Elgin

dates: March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2002

topics: conflict resolution, global economy

discussion leader: Candace Thomas

contact person: Betsy Vera 847-742-2411

Beardstown Public Library

13 Boulevard Road

Beardstown

dates: February 5, 12, 19, 26, 2002

topics: conflict resolution/terrorism, global environment, immigration

discussion leader: Dr. John Hallwas, WIU

contact person: Alice Lou Gramann 217-323-4204

St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia Public Libraries

c/o St. Charles Public Library

1 S. Sixth Avenue

St. Charles

dates: February 20 (St. Charles), 27 (Batavia), March 6 (Geneva), 13 (Batavia), 2002

topics: Middle East, global trade

discussion leader: B. Pierre Lebeau

contact person: Merilee Curtis 630-584-0076 x240

CHOICES, a program of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University, currently involves more than a dozen states. The Illinois Humanities Council has supported CHOICES library programs since 1996.

For further information, please call the contact person at the appropriate local library listed above.

D A R E T O K N O W

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