The People Speak Forum
an article by David Kimball

What do The Jesse Helms Center, The United Nations Association of the USA, the Brookings Institute all have in common? They, and several other diverse organizations like them are supporting the project called "The People Speak: Making Choices About America's Role in the World". This project, sponsored by the United Nations Foundation offers an opportunity for the citizens of local towns and cities across the US to get involved in the discussion of any of the three following topics: American Power and Global Security; Prosperity in a Global Economy; or Energy Choices and Environmental Challenges.

These non-partisan forums are designed to have citizens explore how aspects of related policies affect their lives in their communities, and to give a voice in helping to guide the course of America's role in the world. Last year there were over 2,200 such forums and engaged universities, religious organizations, community groups, editorial writers, think-tanks, concerned citizens and local citizens to participate in a public discourse on US foreign policy.

Participants will be encouraged to personally give voice to their thoughts and feelings about questions on the topics, and/or to raise their own questions in a safe, non-challenging environment. It will also give the participants an opportunity to hear what others think and feel. The format of these forums will include roundtable discussions, lecture and break-out sessions, classroom simulations, and open microphone. Many of these forums will be videotaped and re-played on the communities' local access cable television stations.

Additional information including locations of local forums may be found at The PeopleSpeak website.

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