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| Stanford - 1/29 Update: Centers UnderwayThe Committee on International Development, Democracy, and Health had its organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 25, in a conference room filled to its capacity. Chrissie Coxon, the committee's director, explained the Roosevelt Institution’s mission, emphasizing its commitment to serve and support the fellows. Fundamentally, Roosevelt’s administration exists to help the fellows network, learn, and publish. After orienting the fellows, Coxon divided the room into four groups, asking fellows to spend 15 minutes discussing who they were, what they were interested in, and what topics their center should focus on. Then the larger group reconvened to synthesize ideas. Major topics of interest include HIV/Aids and the global gag rule; international labor standards; human rights violations; farm subsidies; debt cancellation; and sustainable development. There was also a focus on the upcoming Rwanda Forum and a Town Hall meeting on US-Africa relations, which are being organized by center fellows. The Committee on the Environment and Energy met for the first time on January 25 to gather information about its fellows, get oriented with the Roosevelt Institution, and brainstorm project ideas. 17 fellows attended whose interests range from ecological economics to sustainable agriculture to environmental justice. They have done research in everything from black bears in North Carolina to global climate change, and their connections span professors, bureaucrats, politics, scientists, and student and community organizations. Fellows agreed that the purpose of their committee is to find a way to use each other’s talents and resources to produce and distribute work more creatively, efficiently, and influentially than any single member would be capable of doing on his or her own. Ben Grant, the center’s director, explained that his job is to assist with and facilitate projects, not determine what projects the center will do. Fellows left with instructions to consider what they would like the structure and the focus of their center to be. The Committee on Progressive Religious Perspectives had a successful first meeting on Tuesday, January 18, where fellows learned about the Roosevelt Institution, considered possibilities for faculty mentors, and brainstormed about topics. Fellows developed a list of faculty and community members who may be interested in working with the center. They also developed a list of topics that interested them, which includes faith-based initiatives, gay marriage, stem cell development, abortion, and social justice. In pursuing these ideas, center directors explained, fellows should look for unique perspectives that highlight the importance of these issues in their lives as progressive, religious individuals. At the committee's second meeting, on Tuesday, January 25, fellows decided to focus their efforts on the topic of faith-based initiatives. They discussed different aspects of the issue, which include the separation of church and state, tensions between different faiths, and the motivation behind faith-based movements. Fellows are currently doing research to support their varied perspectives and ideas.
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