Upcoming Events
Date TBA
Cambridge has long been thought of as a diverse and inclusive center of knowledge and culture. Now, with a booming innovation economy, Cambridge has seen a growth in wealth, as well as a growth in poverty alongside a disappearing middle class. What can Cambridge and its leaders do to make sure that life in the city—and income, housing, and education—is equitably accessible and sustainable for all?
Moderator:
Geeta Pradhan is the President & CEO of Cambridge Community Foundation, and is an organizational leader with a deep background in philanthropy, urban planning and economic development. Geeta serves on the Family Policy Council for Cambridge. She has also led the effort to organize the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, co-founded the Boston Indicators Project and directed New Economy Initiative to leverage the power of technology and data to drive social change.
PAST EVENTS IN THIS SERIES:
Thursday, November 29, 2018 - After the Midterms: What's Next?
The 2018 midterm elections are undoubtedly one of the most important elections in recent history with many tense and important races. This conversation will consider what and who influenced this year’s midterms and consider what comes next. Moderated by Anthony Brooks, senior political reporter at WBUR. Panelists include: Cheryl Clyburn Crawford, Executive Director at MassVOTE; Alex Goldstein, former advisor to Ayanna Pressley, Deval Patrick; Mark Horan, veteran campaign consultant; and Jennifer Nassour, COO of ReflectUS, formor Chairwoman of MassGOP.
Conversations on the Edge: After the midterms, what's next? from Cambridge Community Television on Vimeo.
Thursday, October 18, 2018 - Social Media and Democracy
Social media influences our world immensely as a means of consuming information and interacting with others. As both a tool for fake news and for civic engagement and organization, this conversation will consider how social media’s rise has changed the ways in which we participate as informed citizens in our democracy.
Panelists incuded Jacob Groshek, Associate Professor, Emerging Media Studies, Boston University; Alexa Hasse, Project Coordinator, Youth and Media Project at Berkman Klein Center; Charles Nesson, Weld Professor of Law, Harvard University; Johnnie Williams, CRLS high school senior, media maker, and producer of the podcast Generation Savage. Moderated by Sasha Costanza-Chock, Associate Professor of Civic Media, MIT.
Conversations on the Edge: Social Media and Democracy from Cambridge Community Television on Vimeo.
Thursday, March 15 - Inequality and Wealth Redistribution
6-7:30pm. Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St. Cambridge, MA.
A recent report by Oxfam details that 82% of the world’s wealth belongs to the richest 1% across the globe, a gap that is increasingly widening. This concentration of wealth has complicated causes and consequences. Join these panelists as they discuss the nature of wealth and inequality in America, how it developed over time, and how we can consider wealth redistribution to combat growing inequality.
This lively conversation featured Eric Kriss, a founding partner at Bain Capital with with experience working in both government and business as an entrepreneur and former secretary of finance for Governor Mitt Romney, Christine Desan, co-founder of Harvard’s Program on the Study of Capitalism, and socialist alternative organizer and Harvard Union leader, Jeff Booth. The event was moderated by Geeta Pradhan, President & CEO of Cambridge Community Foundation.
Conversations on the Edge Presents: Inequality and Wealth Redistribution from Cambridge Community Television on Vimeo.
Thursday, January 18 - Immigration
6-7:30pm. Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St. Cambridge, MA.
What do we mean when we say, “America is a nation of immigrants”? According to the Migration Policy Institute, immigrants make up over 13% of the United States population, with some sources citing hundreds of thousands of new arrivals each year. In this conversation, grassroots organizers and legal experts will explore issues that affect immigrants in the United States today, including current and potential protective policies for immigrants and refugees, immigration reform, paths to citizenship, and how local organizations can empower immigrants to participate in their local communities and civic life.
Led by moderator and immigration attorney Madeline Choi Cronin, this timely discussion featured Eva Millona, executive director of MIRA, alongside immigration lawyers Sabrineh Ardalan, of the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinical Program, and Elena Noureddine, of the PAIR Project. They discussed the difficulties of those facing deportation or seeking asylum in the US, as well as the shortcomings and future of US immigration law.
Conversations on the Edge Presents: Immigration from Cambridge Community Television on Vimeo.
Thursday, November 16 - Resistance in Context
6-7:30pm. Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St. Cambridge, MA.
Moderated by Zeninjor Enwemeka, a reporter for WBUR, our panel discussed different acts of resistance, and what it means to resist. The panel featured: Paul Butler, Georgetown Law Professor and author of Chokehold: Policing Black Men; Sheila Decter, Founding Executive Director of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA); John Stauffer, Professor of English and American Literature, American Studies and African American Studies at Harvard University.
Conversations on the Edge Presents: Resistance in Context from Cambridge Community Television on Vimeo.
Thursday, September 14th - Voting Rights and the Constitution
6-7:30pm. Spiegel Auditorium, 56 Brattle St. Cambridge, MA.
Moon Duchin, Tufts Math Professor, discussed the geometry of gerrymandering, with Alexander Keyssar, Harvard University History Professor, an expert on the constitution and the right to vote. They were joined by Bob Moses, an advocate for felon voting rights, and moderator Wilhemina Agbemakplido.
MISSION
Cambridge Center for Adult Education has a long history as a beacon for learning and discussion on topics of import. Conversations on the Edge addresses pressing issues through dynamic conversations with panelists who are experts and local organizers, and encourages the declaration of diverse voices through robust audience participation. This time-sensitive learning experience aims to inform, motivate, and encourage. Most importantly, recognizing that contributing to a strong social fabric is a responsibility of educational institutions, the Cambridge Center aims to foster a continuing sense of community around these issues.
This series is presented in partnership with the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF) and Cambridge Community Television (CCTV).
Rent Our Space!
We offers a variety of classroom and meeting spaces in two historic properties at 42 and 56 Brattle Street in Harvard Square. Our spaces range from standard class and conference rooms to a state-of-the-art kitchen.
