What is the Barbara Jordan Forum?
The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs will host the 10th Annual Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy, February 23 and 24, 2006. The Forum honors stateswoman Barbara Jordan, who was a Texas State Senator, U.S. House Representative, lawyer, orator, and professor. Jordan exemplified excellence in public service through her commitment to personal and professional integrity and through her faith in the U.S. Constitution?s ability to empower all Americans to reach their full potential. In addition to honoring Jordan?s values and achievements, the Forum engages scholars, policy practitioners, and business and community leaders in a dialogue about fundamental issues in public policy.
The theme of the 2006 Forum is ?Who Will Speak for America??
Schedule
The first day of the Forum will introduce participants to Jordan, including her achievements, the historical context of her life, and the policy and personal challenges she encountered. The second day will consist of three panels that bring together policy experts in academic, government, non-profit, and private sectors from across the U.S. to discuss best practices for collective social, political, and economic empowerment and justice.
This event is held each year at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. All planning takes place at the LBJ School, as the Barbara Jordan Forum is a student run organization. Last year, over 300 students attended the Barbara Jordan Forum. Approximately 75 LBJ School students came together in the year preceding the event to organize every aspect of the Forum.
Mission
The mission of the Barbara Jordan National Forum on Public Policy is to engage scholars, practitioners and community leaders in an intellectual dialogue about vital issues in public policy, while promoting the importance of public service and community engagement and commemorating the legacy of Professor Barbara Jordan.
The Barbara Jordan National Forum was created by students of the LBJ School of Public Affairs in honor of Professor Jordan. This conference is organized entirely by students and attracts participants from across Texas and the United States.
"This is the great danger America faces. That we will cease to be one nation and become instead a collection of interest groups: city against suburb, region against region, individual against individual. Each seeking to satisfy private wants.
If that happens, who then will speak for America?
Who will speak for the common good?"
www.utexas.edu/lbj/barbarajordanforum