Brown Bag Discussion Series

The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) initiated the Brown Bag Discussion Series in support of its mission to bring together campus and community members in collaborative study, reflection, and action to address contemporary social issues.

Brown Bag discussions, open to members of the campus and the community, are held from 12:30–1:25 p.m. on most Fridays during the academic year in room 331 on the third floor of Tyler Haynes Commons unless otherwise noted.

A speaker leads a presentation on a provocative, sometimes controversial, social issue and then opens up the floor to discussion.  When possible, the presentation is available on this website.  Click on the presentation title to view the presentation.

In addition to providing plenty of food for thought, Brown Bags also provide free pizza.

1/20 Faithful Approaches to Social Justice
A panel of faith leaders from Richmond, VA
Co-sponsored by the MLK Day Planning Committee

1/27 The Digital Divide: Equity Implications for Richmond, VA
Liana Kleeman, fellow, VCU
Prayas Neupane (’11), program director, Voice to the World
Dominique Simon (’11), CEO, Voice to the World

Voice to the World Presentation

2/3 Campus Sustainability: Myths, Truths, and the Future
A panel of campus leaders moderated by Megan Zanella-Litke, UR’s sustainability coordinator

Information about upcoming sustainability competitions on-campus

2/10 Neighborhood Based Community Practice: Community Engagement in Greater Fulton
Jason Sawyer, MSW, Community Organizer, Neighborhood Resource Center
Veronica Jemmott, Senior Program Officer, Local Initiative Support Corporation- VA Office

Article from the Richmond Times Dispatch: Dreams Still Alive in Fulton by Michael Paul Williams.

2/17 The International Debt Crisis: Why It Matters
Juan Carlos Hatchondo, economist, Reserve Bank of Richmond
Co-sponsored by the Office of International Education **This Brown Bag will be held in the International Center Commons.

2/24 Why is Middle School so hard?
Dr. Catherine Bagwell, associate professor, psychology
Dr. Thomas Beatty, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Richmond Public Schools
Dr. Valerie Harris, principal, Martin Luther King, Jr Middle School, Richmond Public Schools

Article recommended by Dr. Bagwell: Beautiful Brains, National Geographic, October 2011

3/16 What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
A panel of local corporate representatives moderated by Dr. Richard Coughlan, associate professor, management

3/23 Terms of Racial Justice: Key Concepts for Advancing Our Understanding of Race

A multi-disciplinary panel of UR faculty members moderated by Dr. Glyn Hughes, director, Office of Common Ground
Co-sponsored by the Office of Common Ground

3/30 American Military Support in Foreign Communities

Major Brian Bornick, US Army, military science

4/6 A Case Study: Grassroots, Action, and School Reform

Representatives from HAPPE, a group of parents from Henrico County Public Schools.
Co-sponsored by SEE: Students for Educational Equality

4/13 Child Abuse in Richmond, VA: Facts, Effects, and Prevention
Denise Noble, coordinator of FAM (Families are Magic) at Greater Richmond SCAN

Spring 2012 Brown Bag Timeline

September-November 2011: Spring Brown Bag topic ideas collected

December 2011: Spring Brown Bag topics finalized and speakers invited

January 9, 2012: Spring Brown Bag cards available; Full titles available on website

January 20, 2012: First Brown Bag of the semester

March 2, 2012: Proposals for the April Open Slots due

March 16, 2012: Open Slots proposals finalized

April 6 and 13, 2012: Open Slots

If you have a proposal for the Spring 2012 Open Slots or Fall 2012, please send it to Adrienne Piazza at apiazza@richmond.edu.