We were pleased to have highly respected pollster Mark Mellman join us to shed light on the current status of the campaign race to the 2016 presidential election. As part of his discussion, Mellman shared his views on the impact of the primary schedule, subgroup polling insights, and the key influencing factors.
Voting rights for many are at risk. Ari Berman, author and investigative journalist joined The Common Good to discuss “Voting Rights & the Efforts to Limit Voting Rights Today” and why young voters, minorities, the elderly and others should be concerned as well as his book “Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America”
The first American Spirit Award of the evening was given to acclaimed artist William Pope.L, for Activism in the Arts. Pope.L was presented the award by TCG member and art documentary filmmaker, Diandra Douglas, who has made many documentaries and films for MoMA, HBO and Channel 13. Pope.L, while humble in his acceptance, was honored for his witty, intense and bold artwork that brings political and social messages to public attention. He spoke of the importance of art as a tool of activism.
The Common Good inaugural forum assembled some of the brightest thinkers in the US with a day of dynamic presentations on today’s complex economic and political landscape. Leaders from many fields provided provocative discussions on the issues you want to know about – where we are today, where we need to go in the next 5 to 20 years, and how we are going to get there. Each of our speakers offered practical and insightful information on the global and national landscape essential for public policy or investment decision-making.
The Common Good took a delegation to Selma, Alabama for the 50th Anniversary of the historic March on Selma, marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, listening to President Obama’s speech and greeting various leaders and civil rights figures of the past and present from Congressman John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Amelia Boynton, Kevin McCarthy, and many others.
Actor and activist Adrian Grenier joined The Common Good to talk about his documentary, 52: The Search for the Loneliest Whale in the World, which is about the forgotten “52 Hertz Whale.” In our ever-present fascination with these majestic beasts, the tale of “52” prompts an intense reaction amongst our own species. Director Joshua Zeman also join to speak about his work.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called him “one of the best strategic thinkers in uniform today”. Admiral William Fallon is known for his challenges to the war policies of the Bush-Cheney administration. His commitment to putting diplomacy first marked his career of 40 years as a leader to the U.S. military. The Common Good was thrilled to host Admiral William Fallon to brief us on U.S. national security needs at a time when the international climate is very unstable.
Do flaws in our justice system drive inequality in the United States? Journalist and two-time New York Times bestselling author, Matt Taibbi revealed his findings as an advocate journalist for the stories kept hidden, those of corruption and fraud. We heard Taibbi’s ideas about what is threatening our justice system and the power wealth has to tip the balance, as published in his recent book The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap.
The Common Good encouraged members to take a look beyond the numbers and the 24 hour news cycle for a dynamic and fascinating breakdown of the 2014 Elections with an incredible lineup of political experts: John Harwood, Patrick Caddell, Anna Greenberg, Carol E. Lee, Steve Kornacki, Jim McLaughlin, and Jefrey Pollock.
