Community of Reason KC
Program for October 27:
James Webb, Economist
Kuhn’s theory of scientific change has been very influential. What can we say about scientific inquiry in
light of the tectonic revolution in geology (and other episodes)?
Program for October 20:
Jim Haas, Ed.D., is a retired public school teacher, principal, and university director, a Milken Family Foundation National Educator, and a National Scholar in the Humanities.
We’ll take a trip back in time that paints our culture’s roots in the European Middle Ages using
a humanities palette and a broad brush helpful in understanding contemporary issues
from the Middle East to Constitutional government.
Program for October 13: Film Showing
How did we get here and how do we get out?
Open discussion: everyone is invited to participate
Program for October 6:
Layla, BADIL Worker and Jaime Jackson, member of
Citizens for Justice in the Middle East
(KC group advocating for peace and justice for Israel and Palestine)
BADIL’s Vimeo Page: https://vimeo.com/badilresourcecenter
Here are links to the two films:
“The Sun is Due to Rise”: https://vimeo.com/231350633 [duration 16:43]
“Forcible Transfer in the Old City of Hebron”: https://vimeo.com/193368711 [duration 5:48]
PAST PROGRAMS:
Program for September 29:
Fred Whitehead, poet, author, grassroots historian.
Program for September 22: Film Showing (Documentary)
Kenneth S. Schmitz, Emeritus professor of physical chemistry and environmental studies
That art and science are manifestations of the same thing is the theme of the documentary in which four prominent scientists explore their views from their scientific fields of expertise on the “Circus de Soleil” production of “Mystere.” A discussion follows the documentary.
Program for September 15:
Lewis Diuguid, Author, Journalist, Editor, formerly with Kansas City Star, Harvard University’s
Lois M. Lyons award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism; and,
Bette Tate-Beaver, Executive Director National Association for Multicultural Education ( www.nameorg.org ), a 100% Volunteer Driven Organization
This paper was presented at Seoul National University at the Korean Association for
Multicultural Education Conference (see NAME website for details)
Program for September 8:
Judy Ancel, President of crossbordernetwork.org
and other delegation members
This summer, a delegation of Americans sponsored by “Cross Border Network” visited Honduras to investigate why so many families with children were leaving and making the long trek to Trump’s border.
We’ll discuss the results of this investigation.
Program for September 1:
Luis Flores, Cognitive Psychologist,
Ken Schmidt, UMKC Professor Emeritus of Biophysical Chemistry
and Environmental Studies Faculty,
James Webb, Economist
Program for Aug 4:
Program for Aug 11:
Program for Aug 18:
Gordon Elliott, Consultant
(background in Physics, Engineering and Computer Science)
Program for Aug 25: Film Showing
CJME and CoR KC are co-sponsors of this event.
This documentary was the last chance for many Israelis and Palestinians who lived the event to share their riveting and moving personal recollections. The film reveals the shocking events surrounding the creation of one state and the expulsion of a nation. (go to www.1948movie.com/guide.html for a discussion guide)
July 7:
July 14:
July 21:
There are two main parts that comprise the presentation. The first part is a Trivia section on the history of Bridge. Participation is optional. The second part deals with Audrey Grants “Bridge at a Glance” which summarizes the criteria for opening bids at designated levels. It is shown that all of the elements can be faithfully generated by a natural system based on the understanding of two general concepts: 1) the distribution of cards, and 2) the philosophical view that “above average quantities” play a central role in Bridge.
July 28:
Fred Whitehead, Writer, Freethought Historian
Mike Hoey, Grassroots Historian
June 16:
The Problem is False: Religion is the Issue
SPEAKER: Don Bell, former Presbyterian Minister, Biblical scholar
June 23: Open discussion
Mike Hoey, (Discussant)
June 30: Open discussion
Mike Hoey, (Discussant)
May 2019
May 5: “Heading For Extinction and What To Do About It”
Lee Gum, Local Facilitator for Extinction Rebellion
May 12: “Pets Helping Those in Need: Pet Therapy”
Sharon Woodrum, Program Director, Pets for Life.
May 19: “Cooperatives: Democracy At Work”
Darnell Hunt, community activist/ organizer
Comparing cooperatives to the current capitol-driven workplace.
May 26: “American Educational Reform: Ill Effects of High-Stakes Testing”
Argun Saatcioglu, Associate Professor of Education and Sociology, K.U.
April 2019
April 7: “A Look at the Green New Deal – It’s Beginning and Future”
SPEAKER: Mehdi Shariati, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Sociology, and Geography
April 14: “Medical Marijuana/Hemp and Tilapia – What Ties Them Together? … Dre Taylor”
SPEAKER: Dre Taylor, Sustainable Agriculture
April 21: “Organizing for Housing Justice: Eviction, Homelessness and Public Policy in Kansas City – A Community Discussion”
DISCUSSANTS: Tara Raghuveer (www.evictionkc.org), organizer of KC Tenants, a grass roots group dedicated to empowering renters: Tiana Caldwell is a leader in KC Tenants Union: Jordan Young, is health director of MO Jobs with Justice – a panel discussion led by Ian Munro, William Jewell College emeritus professor of English
Tara’s research on eviction and poverty in Kansas City was featured in the New York Times, New Yorker, Guardian, among others, and was cited in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Evicted by Mathew Desmond, (Penguin Random House, N.Y., 2016). In November 2017, she spoke on eviction before the City Council of Kansas City, MO (https://vimeo.com/244567154).
April 28: “In Conjunction with the Greater Kansas City IWW Labor Film Series: Norma Rae (1987)”
DISCUSSANT: Christian Wade, member of the Greater Kansas City Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).