The DB Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership is partnering with IM Education to offer two new programs to address the need for more civics education and a greater focus of civic virtue in America.
The first is a series of community classes that are free and open to the public. The sessions will take place on Zoom and run from 6:30-8:00pm on Wednesday evenings. The classes will be led by Sam Scinta, founder and president of IM Education, Associate Lecturer in Political Science at UW-L, and Adjunct Instructor in Servant Leadership at Viterbo University.
To register for these classes or to get more information, please contact Jill Miller at jmmiller@viterbo.edu.
February 3: Re-discovering the Declaration of Independence. We all are familiar with the Declaration’s key phrases, but how many of us have actually taken the time to read it slowly and carefully? This session will break down America’s founding document, exploring the meanings behind the words and phrases that continue to shape our American principles today.
February 17: Understanding Civil Liberties-The First Amendment. The liberties we enjoy as American citizens are among the broadest liberties granted to people in the world. What is the source and extent of these liberties? In this 2-part session, we will take a closer look at the First Amendment, specifically freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
March 3: Federalism-Balancing State and Federal Power: At the time of the creation of the Constitution, one of the key debates concerned the extent of and limits to the powers of the federal (national) government. After 230-plus years, this debate is still central to our understanding of American government, touching topics including legalization of marijuana, health care and response to the COVID pandemic. In this session, we will explore the history of this important topic, as well as the sources of state and federal powers in the Constitution.
March 17: Public Participation-Voting and Elections. The easiest way for citizens to get involved in our political process is by voting regularly in national, state and local elections. And yet, even in years of high turnout, a significant percentage of Americans don’t vote. Why is this, and what does this mean for America as a democracy? In this session, we will look at the concept of democracy and representation, as well as the process for American elections and calls for reform.
The other program is The Inspired Minds Podcast, hosted by Sam Scinta and Rick Kyte. It features conversations with a wide variety of people from throughout the United States about restoring American civic virtue. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts as well as IM Education’s website.