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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hello folks, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>It’s been awhile since I was on Libs-Or, mainly because I was heavily involved in a couple of intense civic advocacy projects over the past 5 years [which, I can happily say, turned out positively]. Every civic group should have a reference librarian; we bring important – and at times crucial – skills to civic efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am now picking up where I left off 5 years ago with my Civics for Adults: Enhancing Civic Knowledge and Inspiring Political Engagement Series. I’m scheduled at a couple of libraries in N Portland with the first two workshops of the Series. Eventually, there will be 5. All will consist of presentation, discussion and small group activities and, sometimes, short videos. Here are the topics, so far:<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Scheduled:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>What to Believe? Misinformation and Political Propaganda<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Description: We are overwhelmed with messages from politicians, news sources and other media. Establish truth from fiction using critical thinking skills, and learn where to find accurate information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Constitution, and the Governments we live with<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Description: We live under our Constitution and a number of different governments. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This is a review of basics, and a challenge to reflect with new eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Future workshops planned for:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Voting, Elections and Campaign Finance: A Review </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>[planning for fall]<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Influencing Government – how to be a “Citizen Lobbyist”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>§<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Federal spending via taxes expenditures – “spending by another name”. What we need to understand.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have a Facebook page I just started for this endeavor: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036/</span></a><span class=MsoHyperlink><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>If you “like” you will receive posts about scheduled workshops, as well as, eventually, Civics resources. I also have an email list for those who want to keep up-to-date and prefer that method of communication.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Below is a longer description about this effort:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'>Civics for Adults workshops grew out of a frustration with what I perceive as a lack of knowledge around many basic areas of<span class=apple-converted-space> </span><span class=textexposedshow>civic knowledge, and lack of critical thinking skills, among many people. I am not a historian but I am a teacher and a librarian who combines a long-standing interest in civic institutions with secondary research skills and teaching skills. </span></span><span class=textexposedshow><span style='color:#141823;background:white'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'>I have also participated [and sometimes, led] efforts to improve environments around me – from something as simple as getting my graduate program to institute an annual student survey in order to provide feedback to the school [which immediately resulted in the program dropping a course requirement which made no sense!] to working in my community for safety and justice around an extremely important transportation issue, to effecting crucial changes as part of our high school remodel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'>I follow local and national politics, read relevant materials, and use my infopro skills to ferret out information regarding specific civic developments. I have testified at Portland City Council and in the State Legislature on behalf of various issues. In short, I am an active CITIZEN and would like to encourage others to be so too, whether it is simply by being better informed, on up to taking active steps to support or oppose events that affect you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span class=textexposedshow><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'>I continue to learn everyday about the topics which will be covered in the workshops [any teacher will tell you – if you want to expand your knowledge about something, try teaching about it!] and believe in everyone’s ability to increase their understanding of what is going on around them, and make sense out of [at least, most :-) ] public events.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'><br><span class=textexposedshow>Come join me on these explorations of civic basics. I conducted these workshops before but then was pulled away by some intense direct civic advocacy this past 5 years. I am now re-instituting them and intend to continue with these workshops for a long time to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#141823;background:white'><br><span class=textexposedshow>The workshops are structured around specific content. Sometimes there will be short videos to enhance the content; occasionally, guest speakers. The workshops are also an opportunity for civil discourse, where a mixture of ideas is welcome but the goal is expanding one’s knowledge, not forcing your views on others. It is a space for people to do what, in our society, is often neglected – ask questions, of each other, and most importantly, of yourself. Keep an open mind and you will undoubtedly find some new and interesting information.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Glad to be back!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Donna</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Donna L Cohen, MEd, MLIS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Portland, Oregon<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>503-737-1425<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>dcohen@dcoheninfo.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='color:#9E0000'>Civics for Adults Workshop Series: To Enhance Civic Knowledge and Inspire Political Engagement<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal> <span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>