Is economic inequality in the United States a problem? That will be the focus of the Economic Inequality and Civic Engagement Conference Nov. 6-7 at LSC-University Park.
The conference, hosted by the Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement in cooperation with Tarrant County Community College-Southeast and the University of Houston-Downtown, will examine the ways institutions of higher education are dealing with levels of economic inequality in the U.S. Is inequality a problem, and if so, what should be done about it?
“We will be looking at how the themes of inequality are being dealt in the classroom,” said Dr. John Theis, director, LSC Center for Civic Engagement. “Specifically, we’ll examine what kind of teaching methods are being used to get students to think critically about this very important issue.”
The conference, which will bring together students, educators, researchers and members of the community, will feature speakers who will touch on a variety of issues.
Dr. James Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations and a professorship of Government at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin. He holds degrees from Harvard and Yale (Ph.D. in economics, 1981). Dr. Galbraith served in several positions on the staff of the U.S. Congress, including executive director of the Joint Economic Committee. He directs the University of Texas Inequality Project, an informal research group based at the LBJ School.
Dr. Benjamin Page is a professor of Political Science at Northwestern University. His interests include public opinion and policy making. He is currently engaged in a large collaborative project to study Economically Successful Americans and the Common Good. In 2009 he published “Class War? What Americans Really Think about Economic Inequality” with Lawrence R. Jacobs.
Dr. Dean Baker is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, DC. He writes a weekly column for the Guardian Unlimited (UK), the Huffington Post, TruthOut, and his blog, Beat the Press, features commentary on economic reporting. His analyses have appeared in many major publications, including the Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, the London Financial Times, and the New York Daily News. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan.
Dr. Nicholas Carnes is an assistant professor of Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and the Co-Director of the Research Triangle chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network. His book “White-Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policy Making” examines how the shortage of people from the working class in American legislatures skews the policymaking process towards outcomes that are more in line with the upper class's economic interests
Patrick Morales, board member, Tempe, (Arizona) Elementary School District, will conduct a workshop for students on working and running in elections.
“The goal of the Lone Star College Center for Civic Engagement is to help students engage in issues facing our community,” said Theis. “Studies show that students who participate in civic engagement earn higher grade point averages and are more likely to complete their college degree.”
Registration is open to both LSC students and community members. The cost to attend is $10 for students and $45 for non-students. The deadline to register is Nov. 1.
Please visit Lonestar.edu/CivicEngagementConference for more information.
Lone Star College has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSC remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online.
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