Over the last four months, something special has been happening at the Calvert Library Prince Frederick.  People with a wide range of opinions have been talking. Talking about tough issues that impact Calvert County. Those involved in the program call these conversations, “civil discourse.”

A group of people committed to their community planned the first part of this series of conversations; Civil Discourse for a Sustainable Calvert, to be informed by two books. Initial attendees were invited to read, A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind, and World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler. 

The series takes a new spin in January when speakers will be brought in to share their expertise to generate further conversations.

 
 David Rusk

On Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., the first guest will be David Rusk, speaker and consultant on urban policy who will share his evaluation of the future of housing in Calvert County. There will be opportunity for attendees to ask Rusk questions and then there will be a short session of small group discussions to exchange views on what was said.

Three weeks after Rusk’s presentation, on Feb. 5, people will be invited to come back together to discuss the topic further in small groups using the thoughts produced at the first session.

Rusk combines strong analytical skills with practical political experience. He is a former federal official, New Mexico legislator, 1975-77, and mayor of Albuquerque, 1977-81, the thirty sixth largest city in the U.S.
 
Rusk is now an independent consultant on urban and suburban policy. Since 1993 he has spoken and consulted in over 120 U.S. communities. Abroad, Rusk has lectured on urban problems in England; Berlin, Stuttgart, and Frankfurt, Germany; and in Toronto and Victoria, Canada.  In 1997 he served as an advisor to the government of South Africa on metropolitan governance in Johannesburg, Capetown, and Durban. During 2000 he was a visiting professor at the University of Amsterdam and Delft Technical University in The Netherlands.
Further speakers are scheduled through the winter and spring.  The topic for Feb. 19 will be energy with speakers from SMECO and the EPA. Joel Salatin, sustainable agriculture guru will speak on March 19. Jeff Yeager, the Ultimate Cheapskate, will speak on April 16 about how to live a better life on less.

The mission of the series is to provide a forum for expression of ideas and discussions. The goal is to foster understanding and to discover common values in order to nurture a sustainable community in Calvert County. 

Civil Discourse for a Sustainable Calvert is sponsored by All Saints Episcopal Church, Calvert County Family Network, Calvert Library, the College of Southern Maryland, the Community Mediation Center of Calvert County, and Friends of the Calvert Library.

Registration is requested.  You can call (410) 535-0291 or (301) 855-1862 or register through the library website at www.calvert.lib.md.us.

Join the conversation!