Antioch’s Continuing Education division is offering a series of two 3-hour workshops on “Democracy Deficit Disorder.” The workshops intend to explore pragmatic ways to fight for democracy and engage people through critical thinking and substantive action, with the hope that these strategies will lead to authentic youth engagement, making democracy more meaningful, purposeful, and sustainable. These workshops are funded through the Fund for Democratic Initiatives, part of the larger Antioch Works for Democracy campaign.
As Ken Pienkos, Director of Continuing Education, explains, “The workshops are intended to help participants implement thoughtful, practical outcomes for conversations in their own communities.”
Democracy Deficit Disorder is a term coined by Adam F.C. Fletcher and J. Cynthia McDermott, who is Antioch Emeritus Professor of Education. They explore the concept in their recently published book, Democracy Deficit Disorder: Learning Democracy with Young People. They define Democracy Deficit Disorder as a significant disturbance in individuals’, communities, and nations’ cognition, feelings about, and behaviors related to democracy.
In preparation for the workshops, the first 20 registrations will receive a complimentary copy of the book. Eligibility requires a two-sentence personal testimony on Social Justice and Democracy. Some recent testimonials from prospective seminar participants include:
- “I am committed to facilitating open discussion on issues of importance to democracy. I hope to empower others to make decisions using reason and empiricism.”
- “I’m a human being, woman of color, licensed psychologist, and life learner. I’d like to see if there’s information in this book for how I can increase advocacy and knowledge in my work to help support empowered, individuals, and families.”
- “As an educator and election official for my hometown in NH, I am deeply aware of the lack of engagement of today’s young people. I want to be able to engage in conversations that are useful and not full of conflict with people of all ages on the importance of maintaining our democracy and what is at stake for our future.”
Fletcher says, “Having political party leaders and candidates for elected offices who talk about the health of democracy and the fierce urgency of civic engagement is an inspiring element of the upcoming elections.” This seminar will challenge every participant to take meaningful, substantive, and real action to make real differences. By doing that, not only will we influence the coming elections but we can save democracy for the future.
Fletcher and McDermott are both educators who have spent their lives teaching, writing, and pursuing progressive education. Throughout their careers, they have consistently witnessed how the power of youth can erupt into a torrent of democratic action benefiting society. As McDermott explains they wrote the book to “highlight the actions of young people, show why they are vital to our society, and reveal ways that everyone can support young people and the end of the democracy deficit disorder.”
Fletcher and McDermott will be moderating the workshops, which have three learning outcomes: 1) Examine the concept of the democracy deficit disorder and identify two ways it affects society in general and young people specifically right now; 2) Explore more than two dozen actions that challenge the democracy deficit disorder; and 3) Identify four practical and meaningful steps that individuals can take.
Since the book was released in 2023, Fletcher and McDermott have talked with hundreds of people nationwide at conferences, in interviews and as panelists. They have found educators, parents, social workers, counselors, leaders, youth, and themselves enlivened and engaged in the idea that they could do something powerful, practical, and positive to save democracy.
The workshops offered for free at Antioch will harness the power of discourse in large and small efforts across the country to secure, transform, and sustain democracy in the United States. It builds on the discussions that have already occurred in two previous events put on by McDermott and Fletcher: “Youth Saving Democracy: A Panel About the Future” (which has a video recording available on demand) and “Saving the Nation: A Conversation about the Democracy Deficit Disorder.” Anyone who supports engagement in democracy is invited to participate.
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The Democracy Deficit Disorder: Fighting To Save The World
Two 3-hour Workshop sessions / Live Online / Complimentary Book Available / FREE
Tuesdays September 10 & 24, 2024
6pm ET / 3pm PT
