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Leadership in local government – What does it mean?
Leadership at the local government level doesnt get much attention. Often, we read about and discuss national or state level decision making. However, as we know, or should know, leadership at the local government is extremely crucial and can make the difference between a great city and a mediocre one. I am lucky to know…
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ADL is no longer “generally reliable” source of information, Wikipedia editors say. Why that matters.
As someone who teaches research methods, one of the key issues my students learn, in the first two weeks is identifying reliable sources of information. In the literature review stage, the goal is to identify sources of information – either government, private or even individual, that could be considered “reliable.” My own method of teaching…
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Should local governments get involved in global issues?
During a recent commute from home to work, I tuned into LAist, and heard a question that prompted me to bring it up, more than once, with several people. It is this: Should local governments get involved or weigh in, on global issues? This was prompted by the City of Pasadena’s resolution of Ceasefire in…
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Is Hi-net worth philanthropy good for our society?
They say a rich man’s joke is always funny and his/her ideas for public issues are always spot on. I say a rich man’s (policy) ideas are not always good for everyone. Many a time, actually, a rich philanthropist / giver’s ideas can actually work against public good. Don’t believe me? Look at various examples…
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What is the role of intellectuals in our social media driven world?
What is the role of intellectuals in our world? A world that is almost anti-intellectual in its orientation – in the sense of being ephemeral, with fleeting attention spans, where the loudest – and most powerful voice – wins. I came across this speech by Dr.Edward Said, one of the leading Arab intellectuals whose book…
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How to teach difficult topics in times of crisis
We are going through a crisis in Israel/ Palestine that could have global repercussions, if it is not contained, very soon. The scale, proportion and intensity of this “war” is unprecedented, with the situation on the ground changing day to day. These discussions (and similar ones) are likely to find their way into the class…
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Travel, conversations and learning – How being part of conversations can shape your educational/ professional future
We often think of travel as movement. Physical movement to see people, places or attend events. But have you ever considered travel as a conversation? A conversation to enter a new space, a new way of thinking and new way of experiencing life? This is what I realized during my recent trips with my students.…
