Press Release

ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE? ASSESSING THE STATE OF ELECTORAL POLITICS ON JUNE 2 AT EXPERIMENTAL STATION

The Public Square at the Illinois Humanities Council hosts a panel discussion on electoral reform in Woodlawn.

CHICAGO – A desire for change is mobilizing record numbers of voters to participate in the primaries this presidential election season. But how democratic is the political process in this country? Who gets to vote, who doesn’t, and why? And ultimately, how much do our votes really count?

The Public Square at the IHC invites you to “One Person, One Vote? Reinventing Democracy,” a critical conversation on these questions on Monday, June 2nd from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Experimental Station (6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago). This program is a part of The Public Square at the IHC’s “Looking for Democracy in ‘08 and Beyond” series.

This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required and can be made by e-mailing events@prairie.org or calling 312.422.5580.

“Louder than a Bomb” poets will open up this roundtable conversation featuring:

  • Martha Biondi (moderator), Professor of African American Studies and History at Northwestern University
  • Michael Dawson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and founder of the University’s Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture
  • Dan Johnson-Weinberger,President of Progressive Public Affairs, a communications and policy development firm
  • Theresa Amato, founder of the Citizen Advocacy Center and former national presidential campaign manager for Ralph Nader in 2000 and 2004
  • Alejandra Ibanez, Executive Director of Pilsen Alliance, a non-profit grassroots community agency committed to preserving the historic cultural class identity of Pilsen

This program is presented by The Public Square at the IHC, in partnership with the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, Dropping Knowledge, DePaul University’s John J. Egan Urban Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Southwest Youth Collaborative, Contratiempo, and Experimental Station.

ABOUT THE PUBLIC SQUARE AT THE IHC

The Public Square at the IHC fosters debate, dialogue, and exchange of ideas about cultural, social, and political issues with an emphasis on social justice. Programs promote participatory democracy by creating space for public conversations.

For more information about The Public Square at the IHC, please visit www.thepublicsquare.org or call 312.422.5580.

The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.

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