Join us on November 1 for a special event about civil dialogue during contentious political times.
The national election is one year out, and already people are worried about talking politics with friends, co-workers, and family members. It doesn’t help that the media and many of our political leaders stoke conflict, distrust, and divisions among us. The resulting polarization can leave one wondering if productive conversations with those who don’t share your viewpoint are even possible.
Panelists Jack Miller, Rebecca Tweed, and Wendy Willis will explore this issue and share their views on the state of political discourse in Oregon and nationwide. They’ll also have suggestions about how to have productive conversations across political lines.
Guests will also have a chance to ask questions and share their thoughts and ideas too.
November 1, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm (doors open at 4:45 p.m.) | Portland State University
Meet our Panelists:
Rebecca Tweed
President of Tweed Strategies, Rebecca Tweed is a top political strategist in Oregon and has worked on more than 90 political campaigns for local government, legislative and statewide candidates, plus county and statewide ballot measures. She is a regular contributor to KGW News in Portland providing political and electoral analysis.
She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Oregon State University Legislative Scholars Advisory Committee and is an advisory board member at the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon.
Wendy Willis
Wendy Willis is the founding director of Oregon’s Kitchen Table, a statewide engagement program of the National Policy Consensus Center, designed to give every Oregonian an opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect them. Before joining NPCC, Wendy was the Executive Director for City Club of Portland. She has also served as an Assistant Public Defender for the District of Oregon and a law clerk to Chief Justice Wallace P. Carson, Jr., of the Oregon Supreme Court.
Wendy is the author of two books of poems, a book of essays, and the co-author of a text book on collaborative governance. Another textbook – Kitchen Table Democracy – is forthcoming in 2024, and another book of poems is underway. You can also read Wendy’s episodic column, “Democracy Pie,” at The Fulcrum. Wendy graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown Law Center and holds a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University and an M.F.A. from the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University.
Jack Miller
Dr. Jack Miller is an author, professor, speaker, and podcaster who has been teaching and writing about politics for more than 30 years. He teaches American politics and political philosophy in the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University and is the host and producer of three podcasts: The Pothole Problem, which examines ways of looking at the world to cultivate a less frustrating and more satisfying relationship with politics; Two Ring Circus, a podcast about Congress; and Applied Political Philosophy, which explores political reform.
His two novels — 1994, a novel of politics (2019) and Invisible Empire (2020) — explore enduring political dynamics through the lens of historical fiction. His third novel, The Silent Majority, is planned for a 2024 release. Video lectures and public performances are available on his YouTube channel.
Bill Howe (event moderator)
Bill Howe has practiced law for 47 years, which includes over 25 years devoted exclusively to family law with Gevurtz Menashe in Portland, Oregon. Bill has also devoted significant time to family court reform. He has been appointed by two Governors and several Chief Justices thru the years to lead family law and court reform efforts.
Bill currently serves on the Board of SAGE (Senior Advocates for Generational Equity) and was instrumental in launching the SAGE Citizen Project.