|
Project Pericles is thrilled to announce that our new Executive Director, Sanda Balaban has been recognized as a Democracy Hero as part of an inaugural cohort of 25 trailblazers, advocates, organizers and changemakers around the U.S. dedicated to ensuring marginalized voters have a voice in our democracy. This initiative is a collaboration between Headcount, “I am a Voter”, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” and The Rockefeller Foundation.
Each newsletter, we will spotlight the changemakers in our community and this month we are excited to feature a powerful collaboration between La Colmena, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering low-wage immigrant workers in Staten Island and Margarita Sanchez, Professor of Spanish and Director of Integrated Learning at Wagner College. As a Periclean Faculty Leader, Dr. Sanchez teaches “Border Lives: The American Illusion in the XXI Century,” a course exploring humanity, identity, and voting rights through digital storytelling. Collaboratively, Wagner students create videos featuring La Colmena’s young Dreamers as they share their life experiences and how they are connected to voting rights. After a successful launch in Fall 2023, the course is returning for Fall 2024, inviting students to continue delving into the complexities surrounding the Mexico/US border and the integral role of Latinos in shaping the future of America. NEW YORK–The Board of Directors of Project Pericles is delighted to announce the election of Sanda Balaban as its new Executive Director following a national search.
An alumna of Swarthmore College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Balaban brings more than 20 years of experience in education and nonprofit leadership to Project Pericles. She will begin her new position in mid-July, succeeding Jan Risë Liss who has led the organization since 2005. Project Pericles is saddened by the passing of long-time Board of Advisors member, Christopher F. Edley, Jr. He served on our Board of Advisors since the beginning of the organization in 2001. He was deeply committed to social justice and a life-long advocate for civil rights. Mr. Edley will be greatly missed.
 Are you looking for creative ways to engage students around the 2024 election? Here's a recap from Project Pericles and the Center for Artistic Activism (C4AA) Creative Civic Learning: Faculty-Led Ideas to Strengthen Democracy in 2024 from May 13th at 12 pm ET. Faculty Fellows from C4AA and Project Pericles’ Civic and Voter Engagement Fellowship Program have shared their approaches to implementing creative civic lessons in their classroom, and how other faculty and staff on campus can navigate civic discussions this election year.
Project Pericles is excited to announce the winners of the Spring 2024 Debating for Democracy (D4D) Letter to an Elected Official Competition. This year, we have winners from Pitzer College in California, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, and Wagner College in New York. Student teams won $500 to advocate for policy changes addressing public safety, education rights and racial equity, and sustainability. Congratulations!
The new year has started strong. Last month, Project Pericles held two compelling sessions at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Annual Meeting, making it 18 years in a row that Project Pericles has presented at this prestigious venue.
After nearly two decades of leading Project Pericles to its place of leadership in American higher education, I am announcing my intention to retire as Executive Director effective Spring 2024.
Project Pericles is ending 2023 on a high note. We invite you to read about exciting updates to our programs that empower faculty, students, administrators, and their communities to advance democratic and civic engagement.
Project Pericles launched redesigned and expanded Civic Engagement Resources for faculty and staff available free on our new website. Materials include an interactive database with 100+ civic engagement syllabi and modules for deliberative dialogue, voter engagement, and addressing voter suppression.
|
|
551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1910, New York, NY 10176-0899
[email protected]
[email protected]