SLC, Navesink II, III, 2nd Floor
Parking Lot 7 to the Student Life Center
MAP

Kickoff Keynote Event

The Polarized Mind, Life-Enhancing Anxiety, and the Experiential Democracy Dialogue

Presenter: Dr. Kirk Schneider

Join our keynote event with renowned psychologist, author, and leading voice on depolarization – for an in-depth exploration of the forces that shape our polarized world and how we can pivot towards a more self-actualizing and harmonious way forward. This session begins with a dynamic lecture on the “polarized mind” and the concept of life-enhancing anxiety as a gateway to deeper presence, empathy, and democratic engagement. Following the talk, participants will engage in an Experiential Democracy Dialogue, a structured, participatory exercise designed to cultivate openness, mutual understanding, and the capacity to navigate conflict with courage and discernment. This is an interactive, full-class-period workshop that invites students, faculty, and staff to experience democratic practice in action.

The Black Press: The Stewards of Democracy

• Monday, February 16
• Presenters: Gilda Rogers, history adjunct professor and student docents from T. Thomas Fortune in Red Bank
• Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• Location: 2nd floor, Navesink II, III, Student Life Center

The Black Press that dates back to 1827 was a powerful network of newspapers editors and publishers, who were the bullhorn for democracy with regard to Black political activism that changed the social landscape of America. Join T. Thomas Fortune high school student docents as they teach us about this valuable cite and its history within our own neighborhood.

Youth in a Changing World: Aspirations, Anxieties, and Action

• Monday, February 16
• Presenters: IEC’s Janice Thomas & Katherine Carias, and Laura Neitzel — Senior Fellow Committee on Global Though, Columbia University
• Time: 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
• Location: 2nd floor, Navesink II, III, Student Life Center

“There is so much instability in the world and we don’t know where the world is headed. But we want to make a change—some of us don’t know how. What is the future? We are the future.” (Committee on Global Thought, n.d.). In 2019, Brookdale Community College students participated in a peer-facilitated conversation where young people reflected on their lives, aspirations, and the future. They were an integral part of the Youth in a Changing World research project (youth.cgt.columbia.edu). The findings challenged stereotypes of political apathy among young people around the world but also indicated widespread disillusionment with politics as usual. In this workshop, we will continue the conversation with a focus on civic engagement. What are youth doing now? How are they mobilizing? How are they practicing democracy?

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