The Center for Civic Life at Ashland University will hold a public forum to deliberate the question, “Making Ends Meet: How Should We Spread Prosperity and Improve Opportunity?” on March 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ashland Public Library large meeting room.
The forum, which is free and open to the public, will allow participants to discuss this topic through three possible approaches:
· Create New Opportunities, e.g. encourage businesses and entrepreneurship, start-up loans, and mentoring services
· Strengthen the Safety Net, e.g. extending unemployment benefits, increasing government aid, and building more roads and bridges
· Reduce Inequality, e.g. raising the minimum wage, joining trade unions, reform school funding, tax the wealthy
“We will deliberate each option for an equal time, ending with Actions We Agree On,” said Dr. Louise Fleming-Dufala, director of the Center for Civic Life. “The results of this forum will be sent to National Issues Forums to become part of a May 5 conversation with elected officials and key policymakers in Washington, D.C. Legislators seldom hear what citizens really think. Please come and let us share your ideas with them.”
The first 20 participants of the forum will receive issue guides. Anyone wanting an advance copy of the issue guide in pdf form can email Fleming-Dufala at [email protected] or pick one up at the Ashland Public Library reference desk.
