Session #1: IS IT ENOUGH TO "BE THE CHANGE"?

Introductions and preliminary discussions.  This discussion group will examine ways in which in recent history, important issues including civil rights, economic justice, and advances in life sciences have either moved forward, stayed inert or have lost ground.  What are the common assumptions we share as a society, and how do they differ depending upon: age, gender, education, region of the country from which you come?  We will begin with an examination of core beliefs held about progress, and what progress is, how today's society does or doesn't score well in implementing those beliefs, and move to examination of how effective short and long term change can be effected.

How much do individual stories and personalities influence change, and how much is related to the importance and /or popularity of the issues?  What role does the availability of funding for the effort play?  In this session, each student should be able to identify at least one area where  s/he  believes change is needed and develop a theory and plan as to how that change can be implemented.  We will test those ideas through the next seven sessions by discussing recent examples of important changes to law and society and how they were effected, with a final session focused on ideas that do and don't work, and how you can use them in the future. 

Location: L166, HKS

***All study groups are off-the-record and not for media coverage***