Honors 2001-02: "Community as Text"

"Community as Text"

On April 6, the Honors faculty of the Maricopa Community Colleges participated in an Honors Institute at Scottsdale Community College. Over 100 faculty attended. The purpose of the Institute was to plan for next year's theme, "Customs, Traditions, Celebrations: The Human Drive for Community." The Institute Keynoter was Dr. Paolo Soleri, noted philosopher and architect, who has devoted his life to research and experimentation in urban planning. His major project, Arcosanti, is a prototype for his concept of "Arcology, architecture coherent with ecology." The title for Dr. Soleri's presentation was "The Lean Alternative: Rethinking Habitat."

Honors Lecture Series 01-02

In its 20th year, the Honors Forum Lecture Series has been an integral part of the Maricopa District Honors Program from its inception. The annual Honors theme brings coherence to the district program while allowing each college the opportunity to decide how to implement the theme on its campus. The Governing Board has been generous in its support of the Forum speakers which has allowed us to experience a wide variety of presenters ranging from Robert Ballard to Arun Gandhi to Billy Taylor. Interacting with renowned speakers allows Honors students a unique opportunity to be challenged and inspired, perhaps in a life-altering way. The Forum series also acts as a wonderful ambassador for the district to our community as each of the evening Forum presentations are free and open to the public. The Honors Forum series is another example of unique opportunities offered by the Maricopa District. The six speakers for the year-long study of the Honors Program theme have been confirmed. The Fall 2001 speakers are Mr. Paul Loeb, Mr. Terry Goddard, and Ms. Pat Mora.

Paul Loeb is an investigative reporter and author who has spent two decades researching and writing about citizen responsibility and empowerment -- asking what makes some people choose lives of social commitment, while others abstain. He has written widely praised books, lectured to enthusiastic responses at over 200 colleges and universities, and keynoted numerous conferences.

Born in California in 1952, Loeb attended Stanford University and New York's New School for Social Research where he worked to end the Vietnam war. His book, Generation at the Crossroads: Apathy and Action on the American Campus, explores the values and choices of American college students. His latest book, Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in a Cynical Time, stresses the benefits of community involvement and social activism.

On September 19th, Mr. Loeb will address the topic of "Citizenship: The Individual in Community."

Former Phoenix Mayor, and practicing attorney, Terry Goddard is the current Arizona State Coordinator and Senior Community Builder for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was elected Mayor of Phoenix in 1983 and was reelected three times. In 1989, Goddard was elected President of the National League of Cities and was named Municipal Leader of the Year by City and County Magazine. In the same year, Phoenix won the All-America City honors for its Futures Forum, citizens bond effort, and Neighborhood Improvement Ordinance. As Mayor of Phoenix, Terry led the citizen-based planning effort for downtown development, growth management, public art, and historic preservation. His vision of a dynamic downtown Phoenix is becoming a reality today.

On October 17th, Mr. Goddard will address the topic of "The Livable Urban Community."

Author of poetry, nonfiction, and children's books, Pat Mora is an advocate for the building of community through literature and literacy. She speaks often at conferences, universities, and schools about creative writing, leadership, and multicultural education.

Pat was the Garrey Carruthers Chair in Honors, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of New Mexico, fall, 1999. She received a Poetry Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Among her other awards are the Pellicer-Frost '99 Bi-national Poetry Award, four Southwest Book Awards and the Premio Aztlan Literature Award.

Her poems have been translated into Spanish, Italian, French, and Bengali. Her most recent work is Love to Mama: A Celebration of Mothers, an edited poetry collection. Pat actively supports having April 30th celebrated as Día de los niños / Día de los libros, a celebration of children, books, languages, and cultures.

On November 14, 2001, Pat Mora will address the topic of "Building Community through Literature and Literacy."

Betsy Hertzler, Ed.D. MCC and Margaret Hogan, Ed.D., MCLI