Always, but especially now, is a key time to make your voice heard by championing the right to vote, supporting candidates you believe in, and voting for leadership to help decide on the direction of our communities and country. We continue to offer events to further engage with the political process and welcome you to suggest or host an opportunity. We're inspired by the many of you who are veteran campaign leaders and volunteers and the many of you who’ve shared that you’re new to the election/politics world but diving in to engage and learn this year.
In 2020, we piloted our first community of practice (CoP) around political engagement, thanks to the support of Heller Alumna Mady Chalk (PhD '90). In 2021, we will begin an additional Segal CoP with a focus on racial justice and antiracism.
What is a Community of Practice (CoP)?
Communities of Practice "are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” The main components include:
- “A shared domain of interest” (in this case, political engagement),
- A community, where “members engage in joint activities and discussions, help each other, and share information,” and
- Development of “a shared repertoire of resources: experiences, stories, tools, ways of addressing recurring problems—in short a shared practice.”
(From: https://wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice/)
A list of previous CoPs is below. If you are a Fellow and are interested in participating or facilitating future conversations, please email Susie Flug-Silva at flugsilva@brandeis.edu
October CoP for politically-engaged Fellows
Taking Election Action
Wednesday, October 7, 2020 (4-5pm EST): Hosted by 2009 Brandeis Segal Fellow Jason Gray, who has worked in field campaigning for both Barack Obama's 2012, and Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. This year, he has been taking action from home as a volunteer, and he wants to share how you can take action, hear how you've been taking action, and leave time for discussion and questions.
We will also address how you can plan to take action, not just leading up to and on election day, but moving forward past/through this contentious election. You can join the conversation virtually through zoom.
July CoP for politically-engaged Fellows
Campaigning and Election Efforts During the Time of COVID
Monday, July 27, 2020: Seasoned campaign volunteer and Segal Fellow Jess Kent facilitated the conversation, with wisdom and strategies from Segal Fellow John Valinch about his work on the current Damali Vidot campaign for State Representative in MA. (John invites anyone interested in learning more or volunteering with the Vidot campaign to contact him directly.)
May CoP for politically-engaged Fellows
Wednesday, May 20, 2020: Facilitated by Segal Fellow Leila Quinn, the group discussed the importance of building connections and understanding across political differences and beliefs. Materials discussed included:
- Essential Partners' "Reaching Across the Divide"
- New York Times article: "Talking Across Divides: 10 Ways to Encourage Civil Classroom Conversation On Difficult Issues."