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| November 03, 2014 |
Time:
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Coleman Fellowship Hall of Auburn First Baptist Church
Public forum on prison overcrowding set for Nov. 3
The public is invited to participate in a public forum on Alabama’s prison overcrowding issue on Monday, November 3 at 6:00 p.m. in Coleman Fellowship Hall of Auburn First Baptist Church (128 E. Glenn Avenue). The forum will be facilitated by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life and the Alabama Media Group. Alabama’s prison system is under stress. According to a report from the Justice Center at The Council of State Governments, Alabama’s prisons are operating at nearly double capacity. Also, due to conditions in the prisons, the Southern Poverty Law Center has filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Corrections. “The consequences of not addressing the issue are significant,” said Dr. Mark Wilson, director of the Civic Learning Initiative in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University. “As the state moves forward, citizens must start working together to examine possible solutions.” According to Wilson, the forum will give people an opportunity to weigh carefully the benefits and costs of different approaches to addressing this issue. A moderator will facilitate the discussion, and all participants will receive a decision-making framework that was published on AL.com. “Alabama Media Group and its partners in the Alabama Investigative Journalism Lab have worked for months exposing problems in the state prison system. Our work with The Mathews Center is about creating a dialogue around solutions. We look forward to the opportunity for face-to-face engagement on these important issues,” says KA Turner, Director of Opinion and Commentary for Alabama Media Group. “Public forums provide an opportunity for deep, meaningful face-to-face engagement,” says Chris McCauley, Executive Director for the David Mathews Center. “We are excited to partner with Alabama Media Group on this unique project, and we look forward to facilitating the discussion.” Local sponsors for the forum include the AU Outreach Office of Public Service, the Community and Civic Engagement Initiative in the College of Liberal Arts and the Alabama Prison Arts & Education Project in the College of Human Sciences. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact Mark Wilson at mwilson@auburn.edu or 334-844-6198. #### The David Mathews Center for Civic Life (DMC) is a nonpartisan facilitator of dialogue and deliberation that assists communities, groups and citizens to make more effective and productive decisions. DMC connects Alabama’s citizens with community leaders, teachers, organizations and institutions to share civic practices and discuss issues that affect communities nationwide. DMC’s wide range of experiential, capacity-building programs and education-focused resources helps citizens and communities make decisions. Through its dynamic public forums and regularly-published issue books, DMC fosters productive learning, civic engagement and stronger communities. DMC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Montevallo, Alabama, with statewide impact. Alabama Media Group is a digitally-focused news and information company that combines the quality journalism of The Huntsville Times, The Birmingham News and Mobile's Press-Register with the real-time news and information offered on the AL.com website. |
