Daniel Drezner on “Story in the Public Square” July 15, 2017
Policy debates in Washington have long been dominated by think-tanks and academics who populate the marketplace of ideas. Daniel Drezner argues that new players are entering the field, such as global consultancies and billionaire-funded pet projects. Drezner is professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and a contributor at The Washington Post. Drezner recently … Read More
Christopher Vials on “Story in the Public Square” July 8, 2017
In the 1930s and early 1940s, prominent Americans publically endorsed a policy of “America First,” even if that meant turning a blind eye to the violence done in Europe by fascist political parties in Italy and, especially Germany. Christopher Vials argues that American fascism has roots that go back to the end of World War I—and is enjoying new dynamism today. Vials is an Associate Professor of English at the … Read More
July 1, 2017 – “Story in the Public Square”
About one in five Americans live with a diagnosable mental disorder. This week’s guests, Jeff Sparr and Matt Kaplan, are creators of a program that uses storytelling and expressive arts to create peace of mind. Based in Rhode Island and with an international reach, the non-profit organization PeaceLove Studios promotes mental wellness and fights stigma against mental illness with the use of expressive arts. PeaceLove offers services through its centers … Read More
Daphne Matziaraki on “Story in the Public Square” June 24, 2017
Each year, the Pell Center at Salve Regina University presents the Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square to a storyteller whose work makes a vital contribution to the public dialogue. This year, we honor Daphne Matziaraki, a documentary filmmaker who reminds us of our shared humanity. Born and raised in Greece, Daphne Matziaraki holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and sociology from the University of Bristol, United … Read More
Daphne Matziaraki Accepts the 2017 Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square
Newport, R.I. – Standing in front of a sold-out audience on June 5, 2017, documentary filmmaker Daphne Matziaraki accepted the 2017 Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square. The prize, awarded annually since 2013, honors a storyteller whose work has significantly influenced the public dialogue. Matziaraki, whose short documentary “4.1 Miles” was nominated for an Academy Award, returned to her native Greece to capture footage of the refugee … Read More
June 17, 2017 – “Story in the Public Square”
The media’s role in modern American politics is that of investigator, arbitrator, and even king maker. Guest Thomas Patterson argues that, contrary to popular belief, media bias is not about left and right, but about positive and negative. Patterson is Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He is the author of Informing the News: The Need for Knowledge-Based Journalism, The Vanishing … Read More
June 10, 2017 “Story in the Public Square”
Music and art, like storytelling, are distinctively human creations. Guest Joseph “Butch” Rovan works in both media to tell stories, challenge assumptions, and explore our humanity. Joseph Butch Rovan is the faculty director of the Brown Arts Initiative (BAI), a new program at Brown University that supports forward-thinking and cutting-edge artists – including those whose work responds to contemporary issues and creates awareness of them. In addition to directing the … Read More
June 3, 2017 – “Story in the Public Square”
In the aftermath of the Second World War, political leaders built a global system of free trade because they believed it was crucial to world peace. Like so much of the post-war order, that belief is under assault in the 21st century. Guest Karen Tramontano argues that free trade agreements can serve their original purpose even while helping workers. Karen Tramontano is currently the CEO and co-founder of Blue Star … Read More
“Story in the Public Square” May 27, 2017
With allegations of a cover-up and obstruction of justice circulating in Washington, Americans in 2017 are looking to the presidency of Richard Nixon for precedent and understanding. Our guest, John Farrell, literally wrote the book on Nixon’s life after his own career covering politics in Washington, DC. John Farrell is the author of Richard Nixon: The Life, the best-selling and widely critically acclaimed biography of the 37th president of the … Read More
May 20, 2017 – “Story in the Public Square”
After the 2008 election of President Barack Obama, Time Magazine asked if we had entered a post-racial America. From the perspective of 2017, the question seems ridiculous. Tricia Rose argues, in fact, that structural racism is the key driver of inequality in the United States. Rose is currently Chancellor’s Professor of Africana Studies and the Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown … Read More